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British light-heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming beginning to his career under recent management with a decision win over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a majority decision in a close ten-round bout at the boxing arena.

But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling single shots in a match where the approaches failed to mesh, with frequent clinching marring the contest.

The scoring judges had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.

"It wasn't my greatest performance but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor said in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the spectators.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.

Various analysts felt the challenger, 31, merited the decision but the contender endured the second setback of his 28-match career.

Buatsi Earns Triumph in Dull Encounter

His career development has slowed in the past few years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.

Once tipped as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.

He started carefully, with both competitors ready to overcommit in a tentative early stages.

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was competing in only his second appearance at light-heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to edge the more effective rounds.

The audience's tolerance wore thin during constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during grappling.

Parker closed well, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.

The victor progresses, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Fight

In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry fight to win the European light heavyweight belt.

The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as ten bells rang in memory of local hero Hatton, who died aged 46 in last month.

It was the premier televised match card in the city since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the quiet gave way to a shout of "there's only one Hatton".

The fighting inside the ropes equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch flush on the jaw in the second round, rising shakily to his position on the referee's count.

But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up early, significant bruising appearing under his orbital area as the fighters landed punishing blows.

Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.

Arthur edged the decision with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but both fighters were persistent and brave, exactly what their idol the legend stood for.