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UK light heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round bout at the Manchester venue.

But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling clean blows in a fight where the approaches didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching spoiling the fight.

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

"It wasn't my greatest showing but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi said 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 memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.

Various analysts thought Parker, 31, merited the win but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.

The Champion Secures Victory in Dull Encounter

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

Once tipped as the rising talent of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.

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

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second appearance at the higher weight class.

By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner rounds.

The spectators' acceptance diminished amid constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during grappling.

The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Although, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still appears challenging.

Ricky Hatton Homage Fuels Local Rivalry Battle

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a excellent local rivalry contest to secure the continental belt.

The stadium grew hushed for a profoundly moving memorial prior to the bout as a bell ceremony sounded in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in September.

It was the first major televised match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the silence became a chant of "there's just one Hatton".

The fighting within the ring reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch squarely on the face in the second round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the eight count.

But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in rival City blue - was damaged early, noticeable damage forming under his face as the duo traded punishing blows.

Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over twelve rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but each competitor were determined and full of heart, exactly what their idol Hatton stood for.