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British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive beginning to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close ten-round contest at the boxing arena.

But the challenger had his moments, connecting with powerful single shots in a fight where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing disrupting the fight.

Two judges had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.

"It wasn't my best performance but how do champions respond? They win," the victor commented in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the audience.

The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th pro success.

Several boxing experts felt the challenger, thirty-one, merited the victory but the contender endured the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.

Buatsi Secures Win in Uneventful Affair

His career development has plateaued in the past few years through management issues and long spells of inactivity.

Once tipped as the next star of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.

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

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand during the bout, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to barely take the more effective periods.

The spectators' acceptance diminished during constant clinching, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during grappling.

Parker closed well, but several stanzas were hard to judge. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor moves on, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels All-Manchester Contest

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester battle to capture the European light heavyweight title.

The venue became quiet for a profoundly moving memorial before the fight as ten bells tolled in honor of local hero Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in September.

It was the first major televised fight night in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound faded, the silence transitioned to a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow flush on the face in the early round, rising shakily to his footing on the referee's count.

But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, noticeable damage developing under his eye as the duo traded punishing blows.

Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the pace rarely dropped over 12 rounds.

The victor barely secured the decision with official scores of draw, close margin and clearer margin, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their idol Hatton represented.