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British light-heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to life under recent management with a decision win over Parker in Manchester.

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

But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the action.

Two judges had it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my best display but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor commented in the ring as he was met by boos from the spectators.

The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.

Various analysts believed Parker, 31, merited the victory but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-bout career.

The Champion Claims Win in Dull Match

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

Earlier forecast as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.

He began cautiously, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a calculated initial rounds.

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was participating in his second appearance at light-heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to narrowly win the cleaner periods.

The spectators' acceptance diminished during frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during grappling.

The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Fight

In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a excellent local rivalry battle to win the continental belt.

The stadium became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony sounded in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in September.

It was the first major televised fight night in the city since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet became a roar of "only one Hatton".

The competition during the bout reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch directly to the chin in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the referee's count.

But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged early, significant bruising forming under his eye as the duo exchanged powerful shots.

The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over 12 rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the result with official scores of draw, 115-113 and clearer margin, but the two athletes were persistent and brave, all the qualities their hero the legend represented.