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UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a split decision in a competitive 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful individual punches in a contest where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing spoiling the fight.

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

"It wasn't my best showing but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was faced boos from the spectators.

The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.

Some ringside observers felt Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second setback of his 28-fight career.

The Champion Claims Triumph in Uneventful Affair

Buatsi's progress has slowed in the past few years through management issues and considerable time of lack of fights.

Once tipped as the rising talent of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.

He started carefully, with both competitors prepared to take risks in a cagey opening few rounds.

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the better rounds.

The audience's tolerance wore thin during regular grabbing, with Parker going down several times during grappling.

Parker closed well, but several stanzas were difficult to score. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor progresses, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.

Hatton Tribute Fuels Local Rivalry Fight

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester battle to secure the continental championship.

The arena became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in September.

It was the premier televised boxing event in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime disappeared, the silence gave way to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".

The fighting during the bout equaled the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the second round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the referee's count.

But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured early, significant bruising developing under his eye as the pair traded powerful shots.

Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.

The victor narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, 115-113 and wider gap, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their idol the legend embodied.