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UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a contest where the approaches failed to mesh, with constant grabbing disrupting the action.

Two judges scored it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.

"It wasn't my finest showing but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor commented in the arena as he was greeted with boos from the spectators.

The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th career victory.

Various analysts thought the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second loss of his 28-match career.

The Champion Secures Victory in Uneventful Affair

Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent times through management issues and considerable time of lack of fights.

Earlier forecast as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what appears to be a last chance - under new promotional backing.

He opened tentatively, with both competitors ready to be aggressive in a tentative early stages.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand during the bout, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective periods.

The spectators' acceptance diminished during constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during grappling.

Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.

The victor advances, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Fight

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry contest to win the continental belt.

The venue became quiet for a extremely emotional memorial before the fight as ten bells sounded in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in September.

It was the premier televised match card in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the silence gave way to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".

The competition during the bout reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch squarely on the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the eight count.

But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged soon, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the fighters exchanged punishing blows.

The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over the full distance.

The victor barely secured the verdict with official scores of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but the two athletes were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their idol the legend stood for.