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British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive beginning to his career under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a close 10-round bout at the boxing arena.

But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful individual punches in a fight where the techniques failed to mesh, with frequent clinching spoiling the fight.

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

"It wasn't my greatest performance but what defines champions? They win," the victor commented in the arena as he was faced negative reactions from the spectators.

The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.

Various analysts felt the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-bout career.

Buatsi Claims Win in Uneventful Affair

His career development has slowed in the past few years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.

Once tipped as the next star of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what appears to be a last chance - under fresh management.

He began cautiously, with both competitors ready to be aggressive in a calculated early stages.

The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second fight at light-heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective periods.

The spectators' acceptance wore thin because of frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during close exchanges.

The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.

The victor moves on, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates Manchester Derby Battle

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a outstanding local rivalry fight to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.

The stadium became quiet for a extremely emotional homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in last month.

It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell faded, the quiet became a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The action within the ring matched the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch flush on the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the count of eight.

But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged early, significant bruising forming under his orbital area as the pair landed punishing blows.

The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over 12 rounds.

Arthur barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, narrow lead and clearer margin, but the two athletes were determined and brave, everything their idol Hatton stood for.