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

The Olympic medal winner's punch output seemingly secured him a majority decision in a close ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective individual punches in a fight where the techniques didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing marring the contest.

The officials judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.

"It wasn't my best display but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor said in the arena as he was faced negative reactions from the spectators.

The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.

Several boxing experts felt Parker, thirty-one, merited the decision but the contender endured the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.

Buatsi Claims Triumph in Dull Affair

The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the future of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what seems like a last chance - under fresh management.

He started carefully, with neither fighter prepared to overcommit in a cagey early stages.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second fight at light-heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.

The spectators' acceptance wore thin amid regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during grappling.

Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi advances, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.

Hatton Tribute Inspires Local Rivalry Fight

In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to capture the continental title.

The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute prior to the bout as ten bells rang in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who died aged 46 in last month.

It was the premier televised match card in the city since Hatton's passing. As the final chime faded, the silence transitioned to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting inside the ropes matched the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch squarely on the face in the early round, standing uncertainly to his position on the count of eight.

But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged soon, heavy swelling forming under his orbital area as the fighters landed hard punches.

Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over 12 rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the decision with official scores of 114-114, close margin and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and full of heart, everything their hero the legend embodied.