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UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger found success, landing some telling single shots in a match where the styles failed to mesh, with excessive holding disrupting the fight.

Two judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my finest display but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the spectators.

The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.

Some ringside observers felt Parker, thirty-one, merited the win but the contender experienced the second setback of his 28-bout career.

The Champion Earns Triumph in Slow Encounter

Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.

He started carefully, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a calculated early stages.

The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was competing in only his second appearance at light heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to barely take the cleaner stanzas.

The spectators' acceptance wore thin amid constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during clinches.

The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just a single round.

The victor advances, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.

Hatton Memorial Motivates Local Rivalry Contest

In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent all-Manchester battle to secure the European light heavyweight championship.

The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant memorial ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in September.

It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the location since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the quiet transitioned to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".

The competition during the bout equaled the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook flush on the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the referee's count.

But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up early, noticeable damage appearing under his eye as the duo exchanged punishing blows.

The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over twelve rounds.

The victor barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and brave, everything their idol the legend stood for.