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UK light heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a majority decision in a tight 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.

But Parker had his moments, landing some telling clean blows in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with excessive holding spoiling the contest.

The scoring judges had it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my greatest showing but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor stated in the ringside as he was faced boos from the crowd.

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

Several boxing experts thought the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the contender experienced the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.

The Champion Claims Victory in Dull Affair

The fighter's advancement has slowed in the past few years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.

Once tipped as the next star of British boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.

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

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second fight at the higher weight class.

By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to barely take the more effective stanzas.

The audience's tolerance decreased during constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.

Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires Local Rivalry Contest

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent local rivalry fight to capture the European light heavyweight title.

The arena became quiet for a deeply poignant homage ahead of the contest as 10 bells rang in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in September.

It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the final chime ended, the silence transitioned to a chant of "only one Hatton".

The fighting during the bout matched the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch directly to the chin in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.

But the Manchester United-red shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured soon, noticeable damage developing under his orbital area as the duo exchanged powerful shots.

The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over the full distance.

The victor narrowly won the decision with official scores of draw, narrow lead and clearer margin, but each competitor were determined and full of heart, exactly what their idol Hatton stood for.