Disappointing Joshua Buatsi Outpoints Zach Parker in Manchester
UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing beginning to his career under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a majority decision in a tight ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the techniques failed to mesh, with excessive holding marring the fight.
Two judges judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest showing but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was met by disapproval from the spectators.
The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts believed Parker, 31, deserved the victory but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second setback of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Claims Triumph in Uneventful Affair
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent times through management issues and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He started carefully, with neither fighter ready to take risks in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was competing in only his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to edge the better rounds.
The crowd's patience diminished during constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor several times during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Contest
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester fight to secure the European light heavyweight belt.
The arena became quiet for a deeply poignant tribute prior to the bout as a bell ceremony tolled in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in recently.
It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell faded, the silence transitioned to a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition within the ring equaled the emotion. Arthur was floored by a significant blow directly to the chin in the early round, rising shakily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured soon, noticeable damage developing under his eye as the pair landed punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
Arthur edged the decision with scoring tallies of 114-114, close margin and 115-112, but each competitor were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their idol the legend stood for.
