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UK light heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive start to life under recent management with a decision win over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a majority decision in a close 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a contest where the approaches failed to mesh, with excessive holding disrupting the action.

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

"It wasn't my finest performance but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was greeted with disapproval from the crowd.

The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th career victory.

Some ringside observers thought the challenger, thirty-one, merited the victory but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.

Buatsi Secures Victory in Slow Encounter

His career development has slowed in recent years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what appears to be a last chance - under new promotional backing.

He started carefully, with both competitors ready to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand during the bout, was participating in his second appearance at the higher weight class.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to barely take the cleaner periods.

The audience's tolerance decreased during constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during grappling.

The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi advances, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires Local Rivalry Battle

In the co-main event, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent all-Manchester battle to capture the European light-heavyweight title.

The arena became quiet for a extremely emotional memorial prior to the bout as a bell ceremony rang in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.

It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the city since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the silence became a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting within the ring equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow flush on the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his position on the count of eight.

But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured soon, heavy swelling appearing under his face as the pair exchanged punishing blows.

The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the intensity hardly diminished over the full distance.

Arthur narrowly won the result with official scores of draw, 115-113 and wider gap, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, exactly what their idol the legend stood for.