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UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming debut to life under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a contest where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the fight.

The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.

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

The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th career victory.

Some ringside observers felt the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the contender suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout career.

The Champion Earns Victory in Uneventful Match

His career development has stalled in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.

Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.

He opened tentatively, with neither fighter ready to be aggressive in a calculated early stages.

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was competing in only his second bout at light-heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the better rounds.

The spectators' acceptance wore thin amid constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.

The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.

The victor progresses, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.

Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Contest

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a excellent all-Manchester battle to secure the European light heavyweight belt.

The stadium grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of local hero Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in September.

It was the first major televised match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the stillness gave way to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".

The action within the ring equaled the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a significant blow flush on the chin in the initial stage, rising shakily to his footing on the eight count.

But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured soon, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the fighters traded powerful shots.

Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the pace rarely dropped over 12 rounds.

The victor edged the decision with scoring tallies of 114-114, narrow lead and clearer margin, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, everything their idol Hatton stood for.