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British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a split decision in a tight ten-round fight at the boxing arena.

But Parker found success, connecting with powerful single shots in a fight where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing spoiling the contest.

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

"It wasn't my finest showing but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was faced disapproval from the audience.

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

Some ringside observers felt Parker, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the British boxer endured the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.

The Champion Claims Triumph in Slow Affair

His career development has slowed in recent times through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.

He began cautiously, with both competitors ready to take risks in a calculated early stages.

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

By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to barely take the cleaner rounds.

The spectators' acceptance diminished because of regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during grappling.

The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. However, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.

Hatton Homage Fuels Manchester Derby Contest

In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a excellent local rivalry battle to secure the continental championship.

The venue grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage prior to the bout as ten bells tolled in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in recently.

It was the premier televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the final chime ended, the quiet became a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting inside the ropes equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch squarely on the face in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the count of eight.

But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up quickly, significant bruising appearing under his face as the pair landed powerful shots.

The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over twelve rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the decision with official scores of 114-114, narrow lead and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, all the qualities their idol the legend stood for.