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UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming beginning to life under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a split decision in a tight ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching marring the action.

Two judges scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.

"It wasn't my finest display but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was met by negative reactions from the spectators.

The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.

Various analysts felt the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the contender experienced the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.

The Champion Claims Win in Dull Encounter

Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent times through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.

Once tipped as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what seems like a last chance - under fresh management.

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

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second fight at light heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to barely take the cleaner rounds.

The spectators' acceptance decreased because of constant clinching, with the challenger going down several times during grappling.

Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.

The victor progresses, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still appears challenging.

Hatton Tribute Motivates Manchester Derby Battle

In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a terrific local rivalry contest to secure the continental title.

The stadium grew hushed for a profoundly moving homage ahead of the contest as ten bells sounded in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised match card in the city since Hatton's death. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness gave way to a roar of "only one Hatton".

The fighting during the bout matched the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook flush on the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.

But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged early, heavy swelling developing under his orbital area as the duo traded hard punches.

Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over the full distance.

Arthur edged the decision with official scores of even score, narrow lead and clearer margin, but the two athletes were determined and brave, everything their idol the legend represented.