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UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing beginning to his career under recent management with a decision win over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger had his moments, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the techniques didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching spoiling the fight.

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

"It wasn't my best display but what defines champions? They win," the victor stated in the ringside as he was faced boos from the spectators.

The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.

Several boxing experts believed Parker, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the British boxer experienced the second defeat of his 28-bout career.

The Champion Secures Victory in Dull Affair

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

Earlier forecast as the future of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.

He began cautiously, with both competitors ready to take risks in a cagey initial rounds.

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second fight at light heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a solid defense to edge the more effective periods.

The spectators' acceptance decreased during frequent holding, with Parker going down several times during grappling.

Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still appears challenging.

Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Contest

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific local rivalry fight to win the continental title.

The arena fell silent for a profoundly moving homage prior to the bout as 10 bells rang in honor of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in last month.

It was the first major televised fight night in the location since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the quiet became a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting during the bout reflected the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook squarely on the jaw in the second round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the count of eight.

But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured soon, noticeable damage forming under his orbital area as the pair landed hard punches.

Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.

Arthur barely secured the decision with scoring tallies of 114-114, narrow lead and clearer margin, but the two athletes were persistent and brave, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton represented.