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UK light-heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing beginning to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a majority decision in a tight 10-round bout at the Manchester venue.

But Parker found success, landing some telling single shots in a contest where the styles failed to mesh, with frequent clinching spoiling the fight.

Two judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.

"It wasn't my finest showing but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi said in the arena as he was faced disapproval from the audience.

The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.

Various analysts felt Parker, thirty-one, merited the decision but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-bout career.

The Champion Secures Victory in Uneventful Affair

His career development has plateaued in the past few years through management issues and long spells of inactivity.

Once tipped as the future of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.

He began cautiously, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a cagey early stages.

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand during the bout, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to barely take the better periods.

The spectators' acceptance wore thin because of constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.

The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still looks steep.

Hatton Homage Fuels Local Rivalry Fight

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a terrific all-Manchester fight to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.

The arena fell silent for a profoundly moving homage before the fight as 10 bells sounded in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.

It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the city since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the stillness became a shout of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The action within the ring equaled the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch flush on the jaw in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.

But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, the opponent - in rival City blue - was damaged soon, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the duo landed hard punches.

Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over the full distance.

The victor barely secured the result with official scores of 114-114, close margin and 115-112, but the two athletes were determined and courageous, everything their hero the legend represented.