Disappointing Joshua Buatsi Outpoints Parker in Manchester Bout
UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to life under new promoters with a points victory over Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level likely gained him a split decision in a tight ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective clean blows in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with frequent clinching marring the fight.
The officials judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was met by boos from the crowd.
The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts felt the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer experienced the second setback of his 28-match career.
The Champion Earns Victory in Slow Encounter
His career development has slowed in the past few years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was participating in his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to barely take the more effective rounds.
The crowd's patience diminished because of frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during grappling.
Parker closed well, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates All-Manchester Fight
In the co-main event, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to win the continental championship.
The venue grew hushed for a profoundly moving memorial before the fight as 10 bells tolled in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in last month.
It was the first major televised match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the silence gave way to a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The competition during the bout equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow flush on the chin in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, noticeable damage developing under his orbital area as the duo landed punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
The victor narrowly won the result with scoring tallies of even score, close margin and wider gap, but both fighters were persistent and full of heart, everything their hero the legend embodied.
