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British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a close 10-round contest at the boxing arena.

But the challenger had his moments, connecting with powerful individual punches in a contest where the approaches failed to mesh, with frequent clinching disrupting the action.

The officials judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my greatest showing but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor commented in the ring as he was met by boos from the crowd.

The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th career victory.

Several boxing experts thought the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-bout career.

The Champion Secures Victory in Dull Match

Buatsi's progress has stalled in the past few years through management issues and considerable time of lack of fights.

Previously predicted as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to realize his potential - possibly in what seems like a last chance - under fresh management.

He began cautiously, with the two boxers prepared to overcommit in a cagey opening few rounds.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to edge the better rounds.

The audience's tolerance decreased amid regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during grappling.

The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still seems difficult.

Hatton Tribute Motivates Manchester Derby Contest

In the supporting bout, Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to win the European light-heavyweight belt.

The venue fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony tolled in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.

It was the first major televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound disappeared, the silence gave way to a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The competition during the bout reflected the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook flush on the jaw in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his position on the referee's count.

But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged early, noticeable damage developing under his orbital area as the duo exchanged hard punches.

The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the intensity hardly diminished over the full distance.

The victor narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of draw, 115-113 and wider gap, but each competitor were relentless and courageous, everything their idol Hatton stood for.