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British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing start to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close ten-round bout at the boxing arena.

But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling individual punches in a contest where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the action.

The officials judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my greatest showing but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was faced disapproval from the spectators.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.

Some ringside observers thought the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the contender experienced the second loss of his 28-match career.

Buatsi Earns Victory in Dull Match

Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent years through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.

Once tipped as the next star of British boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.

He began cautiously, with both competitors willing to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was participating in his second appearance at light heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to barely take the more effective rounds.

The spectators' acceptance wore thin because of regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during close exchanges.

Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.

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

Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates All-Manchester Battle

In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding all-Manchester contest to secure the continental championship.

The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant homage ahead of the contest as 10 bells tolled in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in recently.

It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the city since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "there's only one Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow directly to the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the referee's count.

But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged soon, heavy swelling forming under his orbital area as the fighters traded punishing blows.

The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the pace rarely dropped over twelve rounds.

The victor narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of even score, close margin and wider gap, but the two athletes were persistent and full of heart, exactly what their hero the legend represented.