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UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a competitive ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger found success, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the techniques failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the fight.

Two judges had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.

"It wasn't my finest performance but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi said in the ring as he was met by negative reactions from the spectators.

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

Some ringside observers felt Parker, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second setback of his 28-bout career.

The Champion Earns Win in Uneventful Match

His career development has slowed in the past few years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the next star of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.

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

The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was making just his second fight at light-heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to narrowly win the better stanzas.

The audience's tolerance decreased amid constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during close exchanges.

The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.

Hatton Homage Motivates Local Rivalry Contest

In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester contest to secure the continental belt.

The venue became quiet for a extremely emotional memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of local hero Hatton, who died aged 46 in September.

It was the first major televised match card in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell ended, the stillness became a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The action during the bout reflected the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow directly to the chin in the early round, rising shakily to his position on the count of eight.

But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged early, noticeable damage forming under his orbital area as the duo landed hard punches.

Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the result with official scores of even score, narrow lead and wider gap, but each competitor were relentless and courageous, all the qualities their hero the legend embodied.