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British light-heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to his career under recent management with a points victory over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a majority decision in a tight 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.

But Parker found success, connecting with powerful clean blows in a contest where the approaches failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the contest.

Two judges scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the third a 95-95.

"It wasn't my best showing but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was faced disapproval from the spectators.

The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.

Various analysts believed Parker, thirty-one, merited the decision but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-match career.

Buatsi Earns Victory in Uneventful Affair

The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the next star of UK boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.

He opened tentatively, with neither fighter prepared to overcommit in a tentative early stages.

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

By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a solid defense to edge the cleaner rounds.

The audience's tolerance diminished because of frequent holding, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during clinches.

Parker closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor progresses, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Local Rivalry Battle

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a excellent local rivalry fight to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.

The venue grew hushed for a profoundly moving homage ahead of the contest as 10 bells sounded in memory of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised match card in the city since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the silence became a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The action during the bout matched the feeling. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch flush on the jaw in the second round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the count of eight.

But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged early, significant bruising forming under his eye as the duo traded powerful shots.

Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over 12 rounds.

The victor narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of 114-114, narrow lead and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their idol Hatton embodied.