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British light heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Parker in the Manchester arena.

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

But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the techniques didn't complement each other, with excessive holding disrupting the contest.

The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my finest performance but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor commented in the arena as he was faced negative reactions from the crowd.

The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.

Various analysts believed Parker, thirty-one, deserved the win but the contender endured the second defeat of his 28-match career.

Buatsi Claims Victory in Dull Encounter

His career development has stalled in recent times through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - possibly in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.

He began cautiously, with neither fighter prepared to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second fight at light-heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to edge the more effective rounds.

The spectators' acceptance decreased amid regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.

The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi advances, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.

Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Fight

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester fight to capture the European light-heavyweight title.

The arena fell silent for a extremely emotional memorial prior to the bout as 10 bells tolled in honor of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in recently.

It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime ended, the silence transitioned to a chant of "there's just one Hatton".

The competition during the bout matched the emotion. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch flush on the chin in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the eight count.

But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured soon, heavy swelling developing under his face as the pair exchanged punishing blows.

Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over 12 rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and clearer margin, but each competitor were determined and full of heart, everything their hero the legend stood for.