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

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.

But Parker found success, delivering effective single shots in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with excessive holding spoiling the fight.

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

"It wasn't my finest display but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was greeted with negative reactions from the spectators.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.

Various analysts felt Parker, 31, deserved the decision but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-fight career.

The Champion Secures Win in Dull Encounter

The fighter's advancement has stalled in the past few years through contract problems and long spells of lack of fights.

Once tipped as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.

He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to be aggressive in a tentative initial rounds.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the cleaner rounds.

The spectators' acceptance diminished during constant clinching, with Parker going down multiple occasions during grappling.

The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were difficult to score. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.

The victor progresses, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Homage Fuels Manchester Derby Battle

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester fight to win the continental belt.

The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as ten bells tolled in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in last month.

It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime faded, the stillness gave way to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".

The competition during the bout equaled the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook squarely on the face in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his feet on the referee's count.

But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up quickly, significant bruising forming under his orbital area as the fighters traded hard punches.

Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over 12 rounds.

The victor barely secured the decision with scoring tallies of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, exactly what their inspiration the legend embodied.