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UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive debut to his career under new promoters with a decision win over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker found success, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the styles didn't complement each other, with excessive holding marring the action.

Two judges scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor stated in the arena as he was greeted with boos from the audience.

The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th career victory.

Some ringside observers felt Parker, thirty-one, merited the win but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.

The Champion Secures Win in Uneventful Match

Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through management issues and considerable time of lack of fights.

Earlier forecast as the next star of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.

He started carefully, with neither fighter ready to be aggressive in a tentative early stages.

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second fight at light-heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to edge the cleaner rounds.

The spectators' acceptance diminished during regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during grappling.

The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.

The victor advances, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.

Ricky Hatton Homage Fuels Local Rivalry Contest

In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester battle to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.

The stadium grew hushed for a deeply poignant memorial ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in recently.

It was the premier televised boxing event in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell faded, the stillness gave way to a chant of "only one Hatton".

The fighting inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook squarely on the chin in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the eight count.

But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was injured quickly, significant bruising developing under his eye as the duo traded hard punches.

Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over 12 rounds.

The victor barely secured the result with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but both fighters were determined and courageous, everything their hero the legend represented.