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UK light-heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing beginning to life under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a majority decision in a tight ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.

But Parker had his moments, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the styles never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the fight.

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

"It wasn't my finest performance but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor said in the arena as he was met by negative reactions from the spectators.

The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.

Some ringside observers believed the challenger, thirty-one, merited the victory but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-match career.

The Champion Earns Victory in Dull Encounter

The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.

Once tipped as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.

He started carefully, with neither fighter prepared to overcommit in a calculated initial rounds.

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was participating in his second bout at light heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the better rounds.

The crowd's patience decreased during regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during close exchanges.

Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates All-Manchester Fight

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry fight to secure the European light heavyweight title.

The venue became quiet for a profoundly moving memorial prior to the bout as ten bells tolled in memory of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in recently.

It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the final chime disappeared, the silence gave way to a shout of "only one Hatton".

The action during the bout reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow squarely on the face in the second round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the referee's count.

But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged soon, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the pair exchanged powerful shots.

The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.

Arthur barely secured the result with official scores of 114-114, 115-113 and 115-112, but the two athletes were relentless and courageous, exactly what their idol Hatton represented.