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

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.

But Parker had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a match where the approaches failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the contest.

The officials judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.

"It wasn't my greatest display but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was faced boos from the crowd.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.

Some ringside observers believed Parker, 31, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer experienced the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.

Buatsi Claims Victory in Dull Affair

His career development has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the future of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.

He opened tentatively, with neither fighter ready to take risks in a tentative initial rounds.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was making just his second appearance at the higher weight class.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to edge the better periods.

The spectators' acceptance wore thin because of frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during grappling.

The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi advances, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates Local Rivalry Battle

In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester battle to win the European light-heavyweight belt.

The stadium became quiet for a extremely emotional homage before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of the city's native Hatton, who died at age 46 in last month.

It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the stillness became a roar of "only one Hatton".

The fighting within the ring reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch directly to the face in the second round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the referee's count.

But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, noticeable damage forming under his face as the pair landed punishing blows.

Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the intensity hardly diminished over the full distance.

Arthur narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but each competitor were relentless and brave, all the qualities their inspiration the legend stood for.