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UK light-heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a majority decision in a tight ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger had his moments, connecting with powerful individual punches in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.

The scoring judges judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.

"It wasn't my best performance but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was greeted with negative reactions from the audience.

The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.

Various analysts felt the challenger, thirty-one, merited the win but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second loss of his 28-match career.

Buatsi Secures Triumph in Uneventful Encounter

His career development has slowed in recent times through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.

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

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was competing in only his second appearance at light-heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to barely take the more effective rounds.

The spectators' acceptance decreased because of constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during close exchanges.

Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still seems difficult.

Hatton Homage Motivates All-Manchester Battle

In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester fight to capture the continental title.

The venue fell silent for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as 10 bells sounded in memory of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised fight night in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound faded, the silence gave way to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting inside the ropes equaled the feeling. Arthur was floored by a left hook squarely on the chin in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.

But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged soon, heavy swelling forming under his eye as the fighters landed powerful shots.

The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over 12 rounds.

The victor narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, narrow lead and wider gap, but the two athletes were relentless and brave, exactly what their inspiration Hatton embodied.