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UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive start to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a split decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the boxing arena.

But Parker found success, landing some telling single shots in a contest where the styles failed to mesh, with excessive holding disrupting the fight.

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

"It wasn't my finest showing but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi said in the ring as he was met by disapproval from the crowd.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th pro success.

Various analysts felt Parker, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the contender suffered the second defeat of his 28-match career.

Buatsi Earns Win in Slow Match

His career development has stalled in the past few years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the future of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.

He began cautiously, with the two boxers ready to overcommit in a cagey early stages.

The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was making just 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 edge the better stanzas.

The spectators' acceptance diminished because of constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during grappling.

The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.

The victor moves on, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Contest

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a outstanding local rivalry battle to win the European light heavyweight belt.

The venue grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute prior to the bout as a bell ceremony rang in memory of the city's native Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in recently.

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

The competition within the ring matched the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the referee's count.

But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, noticeable damage developing under his face as the fighters traded powerful shots.

The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.

Arthur barely secured the result with scoring tallies of draw, narrow lead and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and courageous, everything their idol Hatton embodied.