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British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling single shots in a fight where the approaches failed to mesh, with frequent clinching marring the contest.

The scoring judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.

"It wasn't my best performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the audience.

The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.

Several boxing experts thought the challenger, thirty-one, merited the decision but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second loss of his 28-bout career.

Buatsi Secures Victory in Uneventful Affair

His career development has stalled in recent times through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.

He started carefully, with neither fighter prepared to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was making just his second fight at light heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to edge the more effective stanzas.

The crowd's patience wore thin during constant clinching, with Parker going down various instances during close exchanges.

Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.

Hatton Homage Fuels Local Rivalry Fight

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester fight to secure the continental title.

The stadium became quiet for a profoundly moving memorial ahead of the contest as 10 bells tolled in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in last month.

It was the first major televised match card in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound disappeared, the silence transitioned to a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The action within the ring matched the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow squarely on the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the eight count.

But the red-colored attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up quickly, significant bruising appearing under his orbital area as the pair exchanged powerful shots.

Rea, 27, landed power punches but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over the full distance.

The victor barely secured the decision with scoring tallies of draw, narrow lead and wider gap, but each competitor were relentless and brave, everything their idol the legend stood for.