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British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a tight 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.

But Parker found success, delivering effective single shots in a contest where the techniques never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the fight.

The officials judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.

"It wasn't my greatest display but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor commented in the arena as he was greeted with negative reactions from the audience.

The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.

Some ringside observers thought Parker, thirty-one, merited the win but the contender experienced the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.

Buatsi Secures Win in Dull Encounter

Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent times through management issues and long spells of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - possibly in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.

He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a cagey early stages.

The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second appearance at light-heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to edge the cleaner stanzas.

The crowd's patience diminished amid frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during clinches.

The underdog closed well, but many rounds were challenging to assess. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.

The victor moves on, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates Local Rivalry Contest

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester contest to capture the European light-heavyweight championship.

The stadium grew hushed for a profoundly moving homage ahead of the contest as 10 bells rang in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who died 46 years old in recently.

It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime disappeared, the quiet transitioned to a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The competition during the bout matched the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook squarely on the face in the initial stage, rising shakily to his feet on the referee's count.

But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured early, significant bruising developing under his face as the fighters traded powerful shots.

Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over the full distance.

Arthur narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of even score, close margin and wider gap, but each competitor were determined and full of heart, exactly what their hero Hatton embodied.