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UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to life under recent management with a points victory over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level likely gained him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round bout at the Manchester venue.

But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective single shots in a fight where the techniques never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.

The officials had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my best showing but what do champions do? They win," the victor stated in the ring as he was met by boos from the spectators.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th career victory.

Some ringside observers thought Parker, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.

The Champion Earns Triumph in Dull Encounter

Buatsi's progress has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.

He opened tentatively, with neither fighter prepared to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to edge the better stanzas.

The audience's tolerance decreased because of constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during close exchanges.

The underdog closed well, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor moves on, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still looks steep.

Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Fight

In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent all-Manchester contest to capture the continental belt.

The venue became quiet for a profoundly moving homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony rang in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in recently.

It was the first major televised match card in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell disappeared, the silence transitioned to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".

The action during the bout equaled the emotion. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch flush on the face in the second round, rising shakily to his position on the eight count.

But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged soon, significant bruising forming under his orbital area as the pair exchanged punishing blows.

The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over twelve rounds.

The victor narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, everything their inspiration the legend represented.