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British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive debut to his career under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger found success, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the techniques never quite clicked, with frequent clinching marring the contest.

Two judges had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.

"It wasn't my finest display but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was greeted with boos from the audience.

The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th career victory.

Various analysts felt Parker, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.

The Champion Earns Win in Slow Match

His career development has stalled in the past few years through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the rising talent of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.

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

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was making just his second fight at the higher weight class.

By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to barely take the more effective rounds.

The audience's tolerance wore thin because of frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during clinches.

The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Although, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi advances, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Fight

In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester fight to capture the continental title.

The arena became quiet for a profoundly moving homage before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the final chime disappeared, the quiet transitioned to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".

The fighting within the ring matched the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a left hook flush on the chin in the early round, standing uncertainly to his position on the eight count.

But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured soon, heavy swelling appearing under his orbital area as the fighters traded powerful shots.

Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the action rarely dropped over twelve rounds.

Arthur edged the verdict with official scores of even score, narrow lead and wider gap, but both fighters were persistent and full of heart, exactly what their hero Hatton represented.