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UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a split decision in a tight ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.

But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective individual punches in a fight where the styles didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing spoiling the fight.

Two judges judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.

"It wasn't my greatest display but what do champions do? They win," the victor said in the ring as he was met by boos from the crowd.

The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.

Various analysts believed the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.

The Champion Secures Victory in Uneventful Match

His career development has plateaued in recent years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the future of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - maybe in what appears to be a last chance - under fresh management.

He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to take risks in a cagey early stages.

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was making just his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to barely take the better rounds.

The crowd's patience diminished during constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.

The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still appears challenging.

Hatton Tribute Fuels Local Rivalry Contest

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester contest to capture the European light heavyweight title.

The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant memorial ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony rang in honor of local hero Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised match card in the city since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound faded, the silence gave way to a chant of "there's only one Hatton".

The competition during the bout reflected the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow squarely on the jaw in the early round, standing uncertainly to his position on the eight count.

But the red-colored attire of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured early, significant bruising forming under his eye as the pair traded powerful shots.

The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over 12 rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the result with scoring tallies of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, everything their hero Hatton represented.