Disappointing Buatsi Outpoints Zach Parker in Manchester
UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a split decision in a close 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling clean blows in a match where the approaches failed to mesh, with excessive holding disrupting the fight.
Two judges scored it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was greeted with negative reactions from the spectators.
The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers felt Parker, 31, deserved the victory but the contender endured the second setback of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Earns Triumph in Uneventful Match
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent times through management issues and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of British boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a tentative early stages.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to barely take the more effective rounds.
The audience's tolerance decreased amid regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor progresses, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Homage Fuels All-Manchester Fight
In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a terrific local rivalry fight to capture the European light heavyweight championship.
The stadium fell silent for a profoundly moving homage before the fight as a bell ceremony sounded in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in September.
It was the first major televised match card in the city since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the silence gave way to a chant of "only one Hatton".
The fighting during the bout reflected the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch flush on the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his position on the eight count.
But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged soon, heavy swelling forming under his eye as the pair traded punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
The victor edged the result with scoring tallies of 114-114, narrow lead and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and full of heart, exactly what their hero the legend embodied.
