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British light heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing start to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful single shots in a contest where the techniques didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing disrupting the contest.

Two judges judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a even score.

"It wasn't my greatest showing but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was met by boos from the spectators.

The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th pro success.

Some ringside observers believed Parker, thirty-one, merited the victory but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second setback of his 28-match career.

The Champion Secures Win in Uneventful Encounter

Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent times through contract problems and extended periods of lack of fights.

Once tipped as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a last chance - under recent support.

He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to overcommit in a calculated initial rounds.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was making just his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective periods.

The crowd's patience decreased during regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during clinches.

The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.

The victor progresses, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels Manchester Derby Contest

In the supporting bout, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent local rivalry fight to secure the European light-heavyweight belt.

The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute ahead of the contest as 10 bells tolled in honor of the city's native Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised boxing event in the city since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound faded, the stillness transitioned to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting during the bout reflected the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook directly to the chin in the second round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the eight count.

But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured early, heavy swelling appearing under his eye as the fighters traded punishing blows.

The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over the full distance.

The victor barely secured the result with judges scorecards of draw, 115-113 and wider gap, but the two athletes were determined and brave, everything their hero Hatton stood for.