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British light heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming debut to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round bout at the boxing arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful individual punches in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the action.

The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.

"It wasn't my best showing but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was greeted with disapproval from the spectators.

The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.

Various analysts felt the challenger, thirty-one, merited the victory but the contender endured the second defeat of his 28-bout career.

Buatsi Earns Win in Dull Affair

The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent times through management issues and long spells of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.

He opened tentatively, with the two boxers willing to take risks in a calculated initial rounds.

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

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to narrowly win the better rounds.

The audience's tolerance diminished because of regular grabbing, with the challenger going down various instances during grappling.

Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.

The victor progresses, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still looks steep.

Hatton Homage Motivates Local Rivalry Contest

In the co-main event, Arthur beat Rea by split-decision in a excellent local rivalry fight to win the European light-heavyweight belt.

The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial prior to the bout as 10 bells tolled in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised match card in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound disappeared, the stillness became a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The action during the bout reflected the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a left hook squarely on the face in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.

But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling appearing under his eye as the duo landed powerful shots.

Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.

Arthur edged the decision with scoring tallies of 114-114, close margin and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, everything their hero the legend stood for.