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

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

But Parker had his moments, delivering effective clean blows in a fight where the styles didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the contest.

The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.

"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor stated in the ring as he was faced disapproval from the audience.

The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th pro success.

Some ringside observers thought the challenger, thirty-one, merited the win but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.

The Champion Earns Victory in Slow Match

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

Earlier forecast as the rising talent of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - maybe in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.

He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to take risks in a tentative early stages.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was making just his second fight at light-heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to edge the more effective periods.

The spectators' acceptance diminished because of constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.

The underdog closed well, but many rounds were hard to judge. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor progresses, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels All-Manchester Contest

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a excellent all-Manchester contest to win the European light-heavyweight title.

The arena became quiet for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in honor of local hero Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in recently.

It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the location since Hatton's death. As the final chime ended, the stillness gave way to a roar of "only one Hatton".

The fighting inside the ropes equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch squarely on the chin in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the count of eight.

But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage appearing under his eye as the duo landed punishing blows.

Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over the full distance.

The victor barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and wider gap, but both fighters were persistent and courageous, exactly what their idol the legend stood for.