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UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive start to life under new promoters with a points victory over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a majority decision in a tight 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.

But Parker had his moments, landing some telling single shots in a contest where the styles failed to mesh, with excessive holding marring the fight.

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

"It wasn't my greatest display but what do champions do? They win," the victor stated in the ring as he was greeted with disapproval from the crowd.

The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.

Some ringside observers thought the challenger, 31, merited the decision but the British boxer endured the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.

Buatsi Claims Victory in Slow Match

His career development has slowed in recent times through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.

Once tipped as the future of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.

He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to take risks in a tentative opening few rounds.

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was participating in his second fight at light-heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, the underdog had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to barely take the better periods.

The crowd's patience decreased amid frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during clinches.

Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi advances, 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 seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Tribute Inspires Manchester Derby Battle

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by split-decision in a excellent all-Manchester contest to win the continental title.

The venue became quiet for a profoundly moving memorial before the fight as 10 bells tolled in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in recently.

It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the silence transitioned to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".

The fighting inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook flush on the face in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the eight count.

But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured quickly, noticeable damage appearing under his eye as the pair exchanged hard punches.

The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over twelve rounds.

Arthur barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, narrow lead and wider gap, but both fighters were persistent and courageous, all the qualities their hero Hatton represented.