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

The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling clean blows in a match where the techniques didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing spoiling the action.

The officials had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.

"It wasn't my finest showing but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor commented in the ring as he was faced disapproval from the audience.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.

Various analysts believed the challenger, 31, merited the win but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second setback of his 28-bout career.

The Champion Claims Win in Slow Affair

His career development has slowed in recent times through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.

He opened tentatively, with neither fighter willing to take risks in a tentative opening few rounds.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second appearance at the higher weight class.

By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective periods.

The audience's tolerance wore thin because of frequent holding, with the challenger going down several times during close exchanges.

Parker closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.

The victor progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates All-Manchester Fight

In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a outstanding local rivalry contest to capture the European light heavyweight belt.

The arena became quiet for a profoundly moving homage prior to the bout as 10 bells rang in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in last month.

It was the first major televised fight night in the location since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the stillness became a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The competition within the ring matched the feeling. Arthur was floored by a significant blow flush on the face in the initial stage, rising shakily to his footing on the referee's count.

But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, heavy swelling appearing under his face as the pair traded powerful shots.

The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over 12 rounds.

The victor narrowly won the decision with official scores of draw, close margin and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and full of heart, everything their hero the legend embodied.