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UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing start to his career under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a majority decision in a tight 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective individual punches in a fight where the techniques didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching marring the contest.

The officials had it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my best showing but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was greeted with negative reactions from the audience.

The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.

Some ringside observers felt the challenger, 31, merited the decision but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second loss of his 28-bout career.

Buatsi Secures Victory in Slow Match

The fighter's advancement has stalled in the past few years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - possibly in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.

He started carefully, with neither fighter willing to take risks in a calculated opening few rounds.

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was participating in his second fight at light-heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the more effective rounds.

The spectators' acceptance decreased because of frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during close exchanges.

The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still looks steep.

Hatton Memorial Motivates Local Rivalry Battle

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific all-Manchester contest to capture the continental title.

The stadium fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in last month.

It was the first major televised match card in the city since Hatton's passing. As the final chime ended, the quiet became a chant of "there's only one Hatton".

The competition within the ring equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook directly to the jaw in the second round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the referee's count.

But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up early, significant bruising appearing under his orbital area as the duo exchanged hard punches.

The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over twelve rounds.

The victor edged the verdict with judges scorecards of draw, close margin and clearer margin, but the two athletes were determined and courageous, everything their inspiration Hatton represented.