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British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing 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 close 10-round bout at the Manchester venue.

But Parker had his moments, delivering effective single shots in a fight where the approaches failed to mesh, with excessive holding disrupting the contest.

The officials had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.

"It wasn't my greatest performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was met by boos from the spectators.

The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th pro success.

Some ringside observers thought the challenger, thirty-one, merited the victory but the contender suffered the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.

Buatsi Earns Triumph in Uneventful Match

His career development has stalled in recent years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.

Once tipped as the next star of UK boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.

He opened tentatively, with neither fighter willing to take risks in a cagey initial rounds.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was making just his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to edge the cleaner rounds.

The audience's tolerance decreased amid constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during grappling.

Parker closed well, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor advances, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still appears challenging.

Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Fight

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester fight to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.

The arena grew hushed for a profoundly moving tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells tolled in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised boxing event in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound disappeared, the silence became a shout of "only one Hatton".

The competition during the bout equaled the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow squarely on the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the eight count.

But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising developing under his face as the fighters landed powerful shots.

Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.

The victor narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, 115-113 and 115-112, but both fighters were relentless and full of heart, everything their hero the legend embodied.