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British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to life under recent management with a points victory over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a majority decision in a tight 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker found success, delivering effective single shots in a contest where the techniques never quite clicked, with excessive holding marring the fight.

The officials had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.

"It wasn't my best showing but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi said in the ring as he was met by negative reactions from the spectators.

The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th pro success.

Several boxing experts thought the challenger, thirty-one, merited the decision but the British boxer suffered the second loss of his 28-match career.

Buatsi Secures Triumph in Slow Encounter

The fighter's advancement has stalled in the past few years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.

Once tipped as the next star of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - maybe in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.

He began cautiously, with the two boxers prepared to be aggressive in a tentative opening few rounds.

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

By the halfway stage, the underdog had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to barely take the cleaner periods.

The crowd's patience wore thin during frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during clinches.

Parker closed well, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still looks steep.

Hatton Homage Motivates Manchester Derby Contest

In the secondary fight, Arthur beat Rea by split-decision in a terrific local rivalry battle to capture the continental title.

The venue grew hushed for a extremely emotional homage before the fight as 10 bells sounded in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in September.

It was the premier televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound disappeared, the stillness became a roar of "only one Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes matched the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch flush on the chin in the early round, rising shakily to his footing on the eight count.

But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling appearing under his eye as the fighters exchanged powerful shots.

The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over the full distance.

Arthur narrowly won the result with official scores of even score, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were persistent and full of heart, exactly what their hero Hatton represented.