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British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.

But Parker had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a match where the styles never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the fight.

Two judges scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my best performance but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was met by negative reactions from the spectators.

The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th career victory.

Some ringside observers believed the challenger, 31, merited the victory but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.

The Champion Claims Win in Slow Match

Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - possibly in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.

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

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second appearance at light-heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to edge the cleaner periods.

The crowd's patience diminished because of constant clinching, with Parker going down several times during clinches.

The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Tribute Inspires All-Manchester Contest

In the secondary fight, Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a outstanding all-Manchester contest to win the European light-heavyweight belt.

The venue became quiet for a profoundly moving tribute ahead of the contest as 10 bells tolled in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in last month.

It was the premier televised match card in the city since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting inside the ropes matched the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook squarely on the face in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the referee's count.

But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising appearing under his face as the pair exchanged hard punches.

Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action rarely dropped over the full distance.

The victor narrowly won the decision with scoring tallies of draw, 115-113 and clearer margin, but the two athletes were determined and brave, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton represented.