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British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round bout at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling clean blows in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing spoiling the fight.

The scoring judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a even score.

"It wasn't my greatest performance but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was greeted with disapproval from the audience.

The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.

Some ringside observers believed the challenger, thirty-one, merited the victory but the contender suffered the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.

The Champion Earns Triumph in Uneventful Encounter

His career development has slowed in recent years through contract problems and extended periods of lack of fights.

Once tipped as the next star of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.

He opened tentatively, with neither fighter ready to be aggressive in a calculated initial rounds.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was making just his second fight at light-heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner rounds.

The spectators' acceptance diminished amid frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during clinches.

Parker closed well, but several stanzas were hard to judge. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi advances, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Homage Fuels Manchester Derby Contest

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry contest to capture the continental championship.

The stadium became quiet for a deeply poignant homage ahead of the contest as 10 bells tolled in memory of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in last month.

It was the premier televised fight night in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime disappeared, the stillness gave way to a chant of "there's only one Hatton".

The fighting during the bout equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook directly to the jaw in the initial stage, rising shakily to his position on the count of eight.

But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, noticeable damage appearing under his orbital area as the duo traded hard punches.

Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the verdict with judges scorecards of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but both fighters were relentless and full of heart, exactly what their hero Hatton embodied.