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UK light heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing start to his career under recent management with a decision win over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a majority decision in a tight ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.

But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful individual punches in a contest where the techniques failed to mesh, with frequent clinching disrupting the action.

The officials had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.

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

The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.

Various analysts felt Parker, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the contender suffered the second setback of his 28-match career.

The Champion Earns Victory in Slow Match

His career development has stalled in recent times through management issues and considerable time of lack of fights.

Once tipped as the rising talent of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what appears to be a last chance - under fresh management.

He began cautiously, with both competitors ready to take risks in a calculated early stages.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second appearance at light heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the better periods.

The spectators' acceptance diminished because of frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor several times during grappling.

Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates All-Manchester Contest

In the co-main event, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to capture the European light heavyweight belt.

The stadium fell silent for a deeply poignant memorial ahead of the contest as 10 bells sounded in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in last month.

It was the premier televised match card in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes equaled the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow flush on the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his position on the referee's count.

But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged early, noticeable damage forming under his face as the pair traded powerful shots.

Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over twelve rounds.

The victor barely secured the verdict with scoring tallies of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but each competitor were relentless and brave, everything their hero Hatton stood for.