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UK light-heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to life under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output appeared to earn him a split decision in a close 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the techniques never quite clicked, with frequent clinching marring the contest.

The officials scored it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my finest showing but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was faced negative reactions from the audience.

The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th pro success.

Several boxing experts believed Parker, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the contender experienced the second setback of his 28-bout career.

Buatsi Earns Victory in Uneventful Affair

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

Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.

He started carefully, with both competitors ready to take risks in a calculated initial rounds.

The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second fight at light-heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.

The audience's tolerance wore thin amid regular grabbing, with Parker going down various instances during close exchanges.

The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still seems difficult.

Hatton Homage Motivates Local Rivalry Battle

In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester contest to win the continental belt.

The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional homage prior to the bout as ten bells sounded in memory of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in last month.

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

The fighting during the bout equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow squarely on the face in the initial stage, rising shakily to his position on the eight count.

But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, significant bruising appearing under his orbital area as the duo landed hard punches.

The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the intensity hardly diminished over the full distance.

The victor narrowly won the verdict with judges scorecards of draw, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were persistent and full of heart, exactly what their idol Hatton represented.