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UK light-heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive beginning to his career under recent management with a decision win over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful clean blows in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing marring the fight.

Two judges scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a even score.

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

The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.

Various analysts thought the challenger, thirty-one, merited the decision but the contender endured the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.

The Champion Claims Victory in Uneventful Affair

The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent years through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.

Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what appears to be a last chance - under new promotional backing.

He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a cagey opening few rounds.

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was making just his second bout at light-heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.

The crowd's patience wore thin because of regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.

The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.

The victor advances, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Contest

In the secondary fight, Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to secure the continental title.

The arena fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in memory of local hero Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in last month.

It was the premier televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the final chime ended, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The action during the bout reflected the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch flush on the chin in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.

But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up early, noticeable damage appearing under his orbital area as the fighters exchanged hard punches.

The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over the full distance.

Arthur edged the result with scoring tallies of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but the two athletes were persistent and courageous, exactly what their hero Hatton embodied.