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UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to his career under new promoters with a decision win over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful single shots in a match where the styles never quite clicked, with excessive holding marring the contest.

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

"It wasn't my finest display but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor said in the arena as he was met by negative reactions from the audience.

The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th pro success.

Some ringside observers thought Parker, 31, merited the decision but the British boxer suffered the second loss of his 28-fight career.

The Champion Claims Triumph in Dull Affair

Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.

He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a calculated initial rounds.

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to barely take the better periods.

The crowd's patience diminished because of regular grabbing, with Parker going down several times during close exchanges.

The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Fight

In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a terrific all-Manchester battle to secure the European light-heavyweight title.

The stadium fell silent for a extremely emotional memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in September.

It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the quiet transitioned to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow directly to the face in the second round, standing uncertainly to his position on the referee's count.

But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage developing under his orbital area as the fighters traded punishing blows.

The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over the full distance.

The victor narrowly won the decision with scoring tallies of 114-114, narrow lead and clearer margin, but each competitor were persistent and full of heart, all the qualities their inspiration the legend represented.