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British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive start to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a split decision in a close ten-round contest at the boxing arena.

But Parker found success, connecting with powerful single shots in a fight where the styles failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the action.

The scoring judges had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.

"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi said in the arena as he was greeted with boos from the crowd.

The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.

Various analysts believed the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.

Buatsi Claims Win in Slow Affair

Buatsi's progress has plateaued in the past few years through management issues and long spells of lack of fights.

Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.

He opened tentatively, with neither fighter prepared to overcommit in a calculated initial rounds.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to barely take the cleaner periods.

The spectators' acceptance diminished amid frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during close exchanges.

The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still looks steep.

Hatton Homage Inspires Local Rivalry Contest

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding local rivalry fight to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.

The venue became quiet for a extremely emotional memorial ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony tolled in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in recently.

It was the first major televised boxing event in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime faded, the quiet became a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook directly to the chin in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the referee's count.

But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged early, heavy swelling developing under his face as the pair traded punishing blows.

The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the action rarely dropped over 12 rounds.

The victor barely secured the decision with official scores of even score, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were relentless and brave, all the qualities their hero Hatton embodied.