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British light-heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a split decision in a tight 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful single shots in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with excessive holding disrupting the contest.

The scoring judges scored it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a even score.

"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They win," the victor said in the ringside as he was met by boos from the spectators.

The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th pro success.

Some ringside observers felt Parker, thirty-one, deserved the win but the British boxer suffered the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.

The Champion Earns Victory in Dull Match

Buatsi's progress has plateaued in the past few years through management issues and long spells of lack of fights.

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

He started carefully, with the two boxers prepared to take risks in a tentative opening few rounds.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second appearance at light-heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to narrowly win the cleaner periods.

The audience's tolerance diminished because of frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during clinches.

Parker closed well, but several stanzas were hard to judge. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.

The victor advances, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Fight

In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding local rivalry fight to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.

The stadium grew hushed for a profoundly moving tribute before the fight as 10 bells rang in memory of local hero Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in September.

It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the final chime ended, the stillness gave way to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The action within the ring reflected the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook squarely on the chin in the early round, rising shakily to his position on the count of eight.

But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged early, heavy swelling developing under his orbital area as the fighters exchanged hard punches.

The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.

Arthur edged the result with judges scorecards of 114-114, narrow lead and 115-112, but each competitor were persistent and brave, exactly what their inspiration Hatton represented.