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British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to his career under new promoters with a decision win over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker found success, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with excessive holding marring the fight.

The scoring judges scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.

"It wasn't my best performance but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was faced disapproval from the audience.

The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.

Several boxing experts felt Parker, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second setback of his 28-match career.

Buatsi Earns Win in Uneventful Encounter

His career development has slowed in recent times through management issues and long spells of lack of fights.

Once tipped as the next star of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - maybe in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.

He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to be aggressive in a cagey initial rounds.

The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second fight at the higher weight class.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to edge the better stanzas.

The audience's tolerance diminished amid regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during clinches.

Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates Manchester Derby Contest

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry fight to secure the continental belt.

The arena became quiet for a profoundly moving tribute before the fight as 10 bells rang in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.

It was the premier televised boxing event in the city since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the silence gave way to a shout of "there's just one Hatton".

The fighting during the bout reflected the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow directly to the jaw in the second round, rising shakily to his feet on the eight count.

But the Manchester United-red shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was damaged early, noticeable damage forming under his face as the pair landed hard punches.

The challenger, 27, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over twelve rounds.

Arthur barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of draw, narrow lead and clearer margin, but the two athletes were persistent and brave, everything their hero the legend stood for.