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British light heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive beginning to life under recent management with a points victory over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a split decision in a tight ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.

But Parker found success, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the approaches never quite clicked, with excessive holding marring the contest.

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

"It wasn't my finest performance but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor stated in the ring as he was faced boos from the spectators.

The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.

Various analysts felt the challenger, 31, merited the win but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second loss of his 28-bout career.

Buatsi Claims Triumph in Dull Match

The fighter's advancement has stalled in the past few years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the next star of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.

He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to be aggressive in a calculated opening few rounds.

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second fight at light heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to narrowly win the better rounds.

The crowd's patience wore thin because of constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during grappling.

Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.

The victor advances, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still looks steep.

Hatton Memorial Inspires Local Rivalry Fight

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding all-Manchester fight to secure the continental title.

The stadium became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial ahead of the contest as 10 bells rang in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in recently.

It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness gave way to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The competition during the bout matched the emotion. Arthur was floored by a significant blow squarely on the chin in the second round, rising shakily to his feet on the eight count.

But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured early, heavy swelling appearing under his eye as the pair landed hard punches.

The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over twelve rounds.

The victor edged the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, narrow lead and clearer margin, but the two athletes were determined and brave, everything their idol Hatton represented.