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UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger found success, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the action.

The scoring judges scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my finest showing but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was met by boos from the spectators.

The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.

Some ringside observers thought the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer experienced the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.

Buatsi Earns Victory in Dull Encounter

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

Earlier forecast as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.

He opened tentatively, with both competitors prepared to take risks in a calculated opening few rounds.

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

By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the cleaner rounds.

The audience's tolerance wore thin during constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during close exchanges.

The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.

Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Battle

In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding local rivalry contest to win the European light-heavyweight championship.

The stadium fell silent for a deeply poignant memorial prior to the bout as 10 bells rang in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised match card in the city since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the quiet gave way to a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The competition within the ring equaled the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the chin in the early round, rising shakily to his position on the referee's count.

But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling developing under his orbital area as the fighters landed hard punches.

Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.

Arthur barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, 115-113 and wider gap, but each competitor were determined and brave, all the qualities their idol the legend embodied.