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British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level likely gained him a split decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger found success, delivering effective individual punches in a fight where the styles failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the fight.

The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.

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

The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.

Some ringside observers felt Parker, thirty-one, merited the win but the contender suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout career.

The Champion Claims Victory in Slow Match

The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent times through management issues and long spells of lack of fights.

Once tipped as the next star of UK boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - possibly in what appears to be a last chance - under new promotional backing.

He opened tentatively, with both competitors ready to take risks in a calculated opening few rounds.

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to barely take the more effective rounds.

The crowd's patience decreased amid constant clinching, with Parker going down multiple occasions during grappling.

Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.

The victor progresses, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still appears challenging.

Hatton Memorial Motivates Local Rivalry Contest

In the co-main event, Arthur beat Rea by split-decision in a terrific all-Manchester contest to win the European light heavyweight title.

The arena became quiet for a profoundly moving homage ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in last month.

It was the first major televised boxing event in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime disappeared, the silence became a roar of "there's only one Hatton".

The fighting inside the ropes equaled the emotion. Arthur was floored by a left hook directly to the chin in the second round, standing uncertainly to his position on the count of eight.

But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured quickly, significant bruising forming under his orbital area as the duo exchanged powerful shots.

Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over the full distance.

Arthur edged the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and brave, all the qualities their hero the legend stood for.