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UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive beginning to his career under recent management with a points victory over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a split decision in a tight 10-round contest at the boxing arena.

But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective individual punches in a fight where the styles failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the action.

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

"It wasn't my finest performance but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor commented in the arena as he was greeted with negative reactions from the crowd.

The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.

Several boxing experts felt Parker, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the British boxer endured the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.

Buatsi Earns Victory in Dull Encounter

The fighter's advancement has plateaued in the past few years through promotional disputes and long spells of lack of fights.

Once tipped as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - maybe in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.

He started carefully, with both competitors ready to be aggressive in a calculated early stages.

The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to narrowly win the more effective rounds.

The audience's tolerance diminished during regular grabbing, with the challenger going down several times during clinches.

The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor moves on, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still looks steep.

Hatton Tribute Inspires Manchester Derby Contest

In the supporting bout, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester fight to secure the European light-heavyweight title.

The stadium became quiet for a deeply poignant tribute ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in September.

It was the premier televised fight night in the location since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound ended, the stillness transitioned to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow directly to the chin in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the count of eight.

But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged early, heavy swelling appearing under his orbital area as the fighters exchanged powerful shots.

The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the pace hardly diminished over twelve rounds.

Arthur edged the result with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and full of heart, all the qualities their hero the legend embodied.