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British light-heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful individual punches in a match where the techniques failed to mesh, with frequent clinching spoiling the fight.

The officials had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my greatest showing but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was faced negative reactions from the crowd.

The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.

Various analysts thought Parker, thirty-one, merited the decision but the contender endured the second loss of his 28-bout career.

Buatsi Claims Triumph in Slow Affair

Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent times through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.

Once tipped as the future of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - maybe in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.

He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to take risks in a tentative early stages.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was making just his second fight at the higher weight class.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the cleaner rounds.

The spectators' acceptance wore thin amid frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during clinches.

Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi advances, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.

Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Battle

In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to secure the European light-heavyweight belt.

The venue grew hushed for a extremely emotional homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony rang in memory of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in recently.

It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the city since Hatton's death. As the last bell faded, the silence became a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting within the ring equaled the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch flush on the face in the initial stage, rising shakily to his feet on the count of eight.

But the red-colored attire of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up early, heavy swelling forming under his face as the duo traded punishing blows.

The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over 12 rounds.

Arthur edged the decision with scoring tallies of even score, close margin and wider gap, but the two athletes were determined and full of heart, everything their idol the legend represented.