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UK light-heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive beginning to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a majority decision in a tight 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective clean blows in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with excessive holding spoiling the contest.

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

"It wasn't my finest showing but how do champions respond? They win," the victor stated in the ring as he was met by negative reactions from the crowd.

The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.

Some ringside observers felt the challenger, 31, merited the decision but the British boxer experienced the second loss of his 28-bout career.

The Champion Claims Win in Dull Match

His career development has stalled in recent years through management issues and long spells of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to realize his potential - possibly in what seems like a last chance - under new promotional backing.

He started carefully, with both competitors willing to be aggressive in a tentative opening few rounds.

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

By the halfway stage, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to edge the more effective stanzas.

The crowd's patience decreased because of regular grabbing, with the challenger going down various instances during clinches.

Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi advances, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still appears challenging.

Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Battle

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent all-Manchester contest to secure the continental championship.

The arena became quiet for a profoundly moving homage prior to the bout as 10 bells tolled in honor of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.

It was the first major televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the final chime disappeared, the stillness gave way to a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The action within the ring matched the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch directly to the chin in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.

But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured soon, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the fighters landed punishing blows.

Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over 12 rounds.

The victor narrowly won the verdict with official scores of 114-114, narrow lead and clearer margin, but the two athletes were determined and brave, all the qualities their idol the legend represented.