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British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive start to his career under recent management with a decision win over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a split decision in a close ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling single shots in a contest where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the fight.

The scoring judges scored it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.

"It wasn't my best showing but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was greeted with disapproval from the audience.

The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.

Several boxing experts thought Parker, 31, merited the win but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second loss of his 28-bout career.

The Champion Secures Victory in Uneventful Match

His career development has plateaued in recent years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.

Once tipped as the future of British boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - maybe in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.

He started carefully, with neither fighter willing to be aggressive in a cagey early stages.

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second bout at light heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective rounds.

The audience's tolerance wore thin during constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during grappling.

Parker closed well, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.

Hatton Tribute Motivates Local Rivalry Battle

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by split-decision in a excellent all-Manchester fight to capture the continental title.

The venue became quiet for a extremely emotional homage before the fight as ten bells sounded in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in recently.

It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the stillness gave way to a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch squarely on the chin in the early round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the eight count.

But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up early, significant bruising forming under his orbital area as the pair landed hard punches.

The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over twelve rounds.

The victor barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but each competitor were determined and full of heart, everything their idol Hatton stood for.