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UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a split decision in a close ten-round bout at the boxing arena.

But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective clean blows in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with constant grabbing disrupting the fight.

Two judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.

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

The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th pro success.

Several boxing experts felt Parker, 31, deserved the win but the contender endured the second setback of his 28-fight career.

The Champion Claims Victory in Uneventful Affair

Buatsi's progress has slowed in the past few years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.

He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to take risks in a cagey initial rounds.

The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was participating in his second appearance at the higher weight class.

By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to edge the better stanzas.

The audience's tolerance wore thin amid constant clinching, with Parker going down multiple occasions during clinches.

The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.

The victor advances, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still seems difficult.

Hatton Memorial Inspires Local Rivalry Battle

In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding all-Manchester fight to win the European light-heavyweight title.

The arena became quiet for a extremely emotional memorial prior to the bout as 10 bells tolled in honor of the city's native Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.

It was the first major televised boxing event in the city since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness became a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The action inside the ropes reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch directly to the chin in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the eight count.

But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured early, significant bruising developing under his eye as the fighters exchanged powerful shots.

Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over the full distance.

The victor barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of draw, close margin and 115-112, but each competitor were relentless and brave, exactly what their inspiration the legend represented.