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UK light-heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round bout at the boxing arena.

But the challenger found success, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the styles didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching spoiling the contest.

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

"It wasn't my best display but what do champions do? They win," the victor stated in the arena as he was met by disapproval from the crowd.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th career victory.

Several boxing experts thought the challenger, 31, merited the win but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.

The Champion Earns Victory in Dull Affair

His career development has plateaued in the past few years through management issues and extended periods of lack of fights.

Previously predicted as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under recent support.

He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was participating in his second appearance at the higher weight class.

By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to barely take the cleaner periods.

The crowd's patience wore thin because of regular grabbing, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during grappling.

The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor progresses, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Fight

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry fight to win the European light heavyweight championship.

The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant homage prior to the bout as 10 bells sounded in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who died at age 46 in last month.

It was the premier televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound disappeared, the quiet gave way to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a left hook directly to the chin in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the referee's count.

But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged early, noticeable damage appearing under his orbital area as the duo exchanged hard punches.

The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.

Arthur barely secured the result with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were determined and courageous, all the qualities their idol the legend stood for.