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UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive beginning to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a split decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the boxing arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the styles failed to mesh, with frequent clinching marring the contest.

The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a even score.

"It wasn't my finest performance but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was met by negative reactions from the crowd.

The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th career victory.

Various analysts felt the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the British boxer experienced the second defeat of his 28-fight career.

The Champion Earns Victory in Uneventful Match

His career development has stalled in recent years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the future of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.

He began cautiously, with neither fighter ready to be aggressive in a cagey opening few rounds.

The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second fight at light-heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the more effective stanzas.

The crowd's patience diminished because of regular grabbing, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during clinches.

Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just a single round.

The victor advances, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still appears challenging.

Hatton Homage Fuels All-Manchester Contest

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester battle to secure the continental title.

The stadium became quiet for a profoundly moving homage before the fight as 10 bells rang in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who died at age 46 in September.

It was the first major televised match card in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound faded, the silence gave way to a roar of "only one Hatton".

The action within the ring matched the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch squarely on the jaw in the second round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the referee's count.

But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was damaged early, heavy swelling appearing under his orbital area as the pair traded powerful shots.

The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over 12 rounds.

Arthur barely secured the result with judges scorecards of even score, close margin and clearer margin, but each competitor were determined and courageous, all the qualities their inspiration the legend stood for.