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UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a split decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger had his moments, connecting with powerful individual punches in a match where the techniques didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing marring the fight.

Two judges judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.

"It wasn't my best performance but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was met by boos from the crowd.

The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th pro success.

Various analysts thought the challenger, 31, deserved the decision but the British boxer experienced the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.

The Champion Secures Victory in Slow Match

The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.

Once tipped as the future of UK boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.

He started carefully, with neither fighter prepared to be aggressive in a cagey early stages.

The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was participating in his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to edge the more effective stanzas.

The crowd's patience wore thin because of regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.

Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just one round.

The victor progresses, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Tribute Inspires All-Manchester Contest

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a terrific all-Manchester contest to secure the continental belt.

The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional homage before the fight as ten bells sounded in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in last month.

It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound disappeared, the quiet gave way to a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The action within the ring matched the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow flush on the chin in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.

But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, noticeable damage appearing under his orbital area as the pair exchanged punishing blows.

Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over twelve rounds.

The victor barely secured the decision with official scores of draw, close margin and clearer margin, but both fighters were persistent and courageous, all the qualities their hero the legend stood for.