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UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive beginning to life under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a majority decision in a tight ten-round contest at the boxing arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the contest.

The officials scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.

"It wasn't my finest display but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was faced negative reactions from the audience.

The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th pro success.

Various analysts thought the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the contender suffered the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.

The Champion Secures Triumph in Uneventful Affair

His career development has slowed in the past few years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.

Once tipped as the future of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.

He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a calculated opening few rounds.

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was making just his second bout at light-heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to edge the cleaner stanzas.

The crowd's patience decreased because of constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.

The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires All-Manchester Battle

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry fight to win the European light heavyweight belt.

The stadium grew hushed for a profoundly moving memorial before the fight as 10 bells sounded in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in September.

It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the silence became a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The action during the bout matched the emotion. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch flush on the face in the second round, rising shakily to his position on the referee's count.

But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, significant bruising developing under his face as the fighters exchanged powerful shots.

Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over 12 rounds.

The victor edged the decision with judges scorecards of draw, 115-113 and 115-112, but both fighters were relentless and brave, all the qualities their hero the legend represented.