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UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a split decision in a competitive 10-round bout at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling clean blows in a match where the techniques failed to mesh, with excessive holding marring the action.

The scoring judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.

"It wasn't my best display but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor stated in the ringside as he was faced negative reactions from the crowd.

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

Several boxing experts thought the challenger, 31, merited the win but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second defeat of his 28-match career.

The Champion Secures Win in Dull Match

His career development has stalled in recent times through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.

Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.

He began cautiously, with the two boxers prepared to overcommit in a tentative early stages.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand during the bout, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to barely take the more effective stanzas.

The crowd's patience wore thin because of frequent holding, with Parker going down various instances during grappling.

Parker closed well, but several stanzas were difficult to score. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.

The victor advances, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still appears challenging.

Hatton Memorial Inspires All-Manchester Battle

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester battle to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.

The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial before the fight as 10 bells rang in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in last month.

It was the premier televised boxing event in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound ended, the stillness transitioned to a chant of "only one Hatton".

The fighting during the bout reflected the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow squarely on the face in the second round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the count of eight.

But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured early, heavy swelling forming under his eye as the duo traded hard punches.

Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over twelve rounds.

The victor edged the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but each competitor were persistent and brave, everything their inspiration Hatton embodied.