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UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round bout at the boxing arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective clean blows in a fight where the approaches never quite clicked, with constant grabbing disrupting the fight.

The scoring judges had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my greatest showing but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor stated in the ringside as he was faced negative reactions from the spectators.

The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th pro success.

Various analysts believed Parker, thirty-one, merited the victory but the contender suffered the second defeat of his 28-fight career.

The Champion Secures Triumph in Uneventful Affair

Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent times through contract problems and long spells of lack of fights.

Earlier forecast as the future of British boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what appears to be a last chance - under fresh management.

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

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was making just his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to barely take the better periods.

The audience's tolerance wore thin amid regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during grappling.

The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates Local Rivalry Contest

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent all-Manchester fight to win the European light heavyweight belt.

The arena grew hushed for a deeply poignant tribute prior to the bout as 10 bells rang in memory of local hero Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in September.

It was the premier televised fight night in the city since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the stillness transitioned to a shout of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The action within the ring matched the emotion. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch directly to the chin in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the count of eight.

But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was damaged quickly, heavy swelling forming under his face as the duo landed hard punches.

Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over the full distance.

The victor narrowly won the decision with official scores of even score, close margin and clearer margin, but the two athletes were persistent and courageous, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton embodied.