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British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing start to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision 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 Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective individual punches in a contest where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.

Two judges judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my finest performance but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was faced boos from the audience.

The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.

Several boxing experts thought Parker, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-match career.

The Champion Secures Victory in Uneventful Affair

His career development has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.

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

He opened tentatively, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a calculated initial rounds.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was participating in his second appearance at the higher weight class.

By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to narrowly win the better periods.

The spectators' acceptance diminished because of regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during close exchanges.

The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.

The victor progresses, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still seems difficult.

Hatton Tribute Inspires Manchester Derby Contest

In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a terrific all-Manchester fight to win the continental title.

The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as 10 bells sounded in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in September.

It was the first major televised match card in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound faded, the quiet became a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The competition within the ring reflected the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook squarely on the chin in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his feet on the count of eight.

But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the duo exchanged hard punches.

The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over 12 rounds.

The victor barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, narrow lead and wider gap, but the two athletes were determined and brave, all the qualities their hero the legend stood for.