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UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a split decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective single shots in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the fight.

The officials had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.

"It wasn't my finest performance but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor stated in the ringside as he was met by boos from the audience.

The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.

Various analysts believed Parker, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.

Buatsi Claims Win in Slow Match

His career development has slowed in recent years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the future of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.

He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a calculated initial rounds.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was competing in only his second fight at light-heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to edge the better periods.

The crowd's patience wore thin amid frequent holding, with Parker going down several times during close exchanges.

The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still looks steep.

Hatton Memorial Fuels All-Manchester Battle

In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester battle to secure the European light heavyweight title.

The stadium became quiet for a profoundly moving memorial ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in September.

It was the first major televised fight night in the location since Hatton's passing. As the final chime disappeared, the silence gave way to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting within the ring reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch squarely on the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the eight count.

But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged quickly, heavy swelling developing under his orbital area as the fighters landed hard punches.

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

Arthur narrowly won the result with scoring tallies of even score, close margin and wider gap, but the two athletes were relentless and courageous, all the qualities their hero Hatton embodied.