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British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming start to life under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Parker in the Manchester arena.

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

But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with constant grabbing disrupting the fight.

Two judges scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.

"It wasn't my best showing but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor said in the ringside as he was faced disapproval from the crowd.

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

Some ringside observers believed Parker, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the British boxer suffered the second loss of his 28-fight career.

Buatsi Claims Win in Dull Affair

The fighter's advancement has plateaued in the past few years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.

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

The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.

By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a solid defense to edge the more effective stanzas.

The spectators' acceptance decreased during frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during grappling.

Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still seems difficult.

Hatton Homage Fuels Manchester Derby Contest

In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester battle to capture the continental belt.

The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells tolled in memory of the city's native Hatton, who died aged 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the final chime faded, the silence transitioned to a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting within the ring matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch directly to the face in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his position on the count of eight.

But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured early, significant bruising forming under his eye as the pair exchanged powerful shots.

The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over 12 rounds.

The victor edged the result with official scores of 114-114, narrow lead and clearer margin, but the two athletes were persistent and brave, all the qualities their inspiration the legend represented.