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UK light heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level likely gained him a majority decision in a close ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful single shots in a contest where the styles never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the action.

The officials judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my greatest showing but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor said in the arena as he was greeted with negative reactions from the spectators.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.

Various analysts believed Parker, 31, deserved the win but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-bout career.

The Champion Secures Win in Dull Affair

The fighter's advancement has stalled in the past few years through management issues and extended periods of lack of fights.

Once tipped as the next star of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under recent support.

He opened tentatively, with neither fighter willing to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second bout at light-heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a solid defense to barely take the more effective stanzas.

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

Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.

The victor advances, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still appears challenging.

Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Fight

In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry contest to secure the European light-heavyweight title.

The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony sounded in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who died aged 46 in September.

It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the stillness gave way to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The competition during the bout equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch flush on the chin in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his feet on the count of eight.

But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling appearing under his orbital area as the duo traded punishing blows.

The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over the full distance.

The victor edged the verdict with official scores of 114-114, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were relentless and brave, all the qualities their inspiration the legend stood for.