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British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive debut to life under new promoters with a decision win over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a split decision in a competitive ten-round bout at the boxing arena.

But Parker found success, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the techniques didn't complement each other, with excessive holding marring the action.

The officials judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95.

"It wasn't my greatest performance but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi said in the ring as he was faced negative reactions from the crowd.

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

Some ringside observers thought the challenger, thirty-one, merited the win but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second setback of his 28-bout career.

Buatsi Claims Triumph in Slow Affair

Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent times through management issues and long spells of inactivity.

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

He began cautiously, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a cagey early stages.

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was participating in his second fight at light-heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to narrowly win the better periods.

The audience's tolerance wore thin amid regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during clinches.

Parker closed well, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.

Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Contest

In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester contest to secure the continental belt.

The venue grew hushed for a profoundly moving homage before the fight as a bell ceremony rang in honor of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet gave way to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The action during the bout equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow directly to the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the eight count.

But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, significant bruising developing under his face as the pair exchanged powerful shots.

The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.

The victor barely secured the verdict with scoring tallies of draw, 115-113 and clearer margin, but the two athletes were relentless and courageous, all the qualities their idol the legend stood for.