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UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing beginning to his career under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful individual punches in a match where the techniques didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing spoiling the action.

The officials judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.

"It wasn't my finest showing but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor said in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the spectators.

The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.

Some ringside observers felt the challenger, 31, deserved the victory but the British boxer experienced the second defeat of his 28-match career.

The Champion Claims Win in Slow Encounter

Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent times through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the future of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.

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

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was competing in only his second bout at light-heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the better stanzas.

The audience's tolerance decreased amid regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during clinches.

Parker closed well, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi advances, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.

Hatton Memorial Inspires Local Rivalry Fight

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a excellent all-Manchester contest to capture the continental championship.

The stadium fell silent for a deeply poignant memorial prior to the bout as a bell ceremony sounded in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.

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

The action during the bout matched the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch directly to the chin in the second round, standing uncertainly to his position on the count of eight.

But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, significant bruising forming under his orbital area as the fighters landed punishing blows.

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

The victor barely secured the result with official scores of even score, close margin and wider gap, but the two athletes were determined and brave, exactly what their idol the legend stood for.