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British light-heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing start to life under new promoters with a decision win over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a split decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker found success, landing some telling individual punches in a contest where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching marring the action.

Two judges had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.

"It wasn't my greatest performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor stated in the ringside as he was met by negative reactions from the spectators.

The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.

Several boxing experts believed Parker, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second setback of his 28-fight career.

Buatsi Claims Victory in Dull Match

The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent times through management issues and long spells of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.

He began cautiously, with the two boxers prepared to be aggressive in a cagey early stages.

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to barely take the cleaner periods.

The spectators' acceptance diminished during constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during close exchanges.

Parker closed well, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi advances, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates Local Rivalry Contest

In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester fight to win the continental championship.

The stadium became quiet for a deeply poignant tribute ahead of the contest as 10 bells rang in memory of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in last month.

It was the first major televised match card in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound faded, the stillness gave way to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The action within the ring matched the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the early round, standing uncertainly to his position on the referee's count.

But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, heavy swelling forming under his face as the pair landed hard punches.

Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the verdict with judges scorecards of draw, close margin and clearer margin, but each competitor were persistent and full of heart, everything their hero Hatton represented.