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UK light-heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round fight at the boxing arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful individual punches in a match where the techniques failed to mesh, with frequent clinching disrupting the action.

Two judges judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a even score.

"It wasn't my greatest performance but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was met by disapproval from the crowd.

The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.

Various analysts believed the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the contender experienced the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.

The Champion Claims Triumph in Slow Match

The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the future of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.

He started carefully, with the two boxers prepared to overcommit in a cagey early stages.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was making just his second appearance at light-heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to edge the more effective stanzas.

The crowd's patience decreased amid frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during grappling.

The underdog closed well, but many rounds were difficult to score. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.

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

Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Battle

In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a excellent all-Manchester battle to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.

The stadium became quiet for a extremely emotional memorial prior to the bout as a bell ceremony sounded in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in September.

It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the city since Hatton's passing. As the final chime ended, the stillness transitioned to a shout of "only one Hatton".

The action inside the ropes equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch flush on the jaw in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his position on the count of eight.

But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, noticeable damage appearing under his orbital area as the fighters landed powerful shots.

Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the intensity seldom decreased over 12 rounds.

Arthur barely secured the result with official scores of draw, 115-113 and wider gap, but the two athletes were determined and courageous, exactly what their inspiration Hatton represented.