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British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing debut to life under recent management with a decision win over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a split decision in a close 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective individual punches in a match where the approaches didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing spoiling the action.

Two judges had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a even score.

"It wasn't my greatest performance but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was greeted with boos from the audience.

The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th pro success.

Various analysts believed the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the contender suffered the second setback of his 28-fight career.

The Champion Earns Triumph in Dull Match

His career development has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under fresh management.

He began cautiously, with neither fighter prepared to take risks in a calculated early stages.

The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was making just his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a solid defense to edge the more effective stanzas.

The crowd's patience wore thin because of frequent holding, with the challenger going down various instances during grappling.

The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.

The victor moves on, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Battle

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry battle to capture the European light heavyweight championship.

The arena grew hushed for a deeply poignant tribute prior to the bout as 10 bells sounded in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who died 46 years old in recently.

It was the premier televised fight night in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime faded, the stillness transitioned to a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The competition during the bout equaled the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a significant blow squarely on the face in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the referee's count.

But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured quickly, noticeable damage forming under his face as the duo exchanged hard punches.

Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over 12 rounds.

The victor narrowly won the decision with official scores of 114-114, narrow lead and 115-112, but each competitor were persistent and courageous, all the qualities their inspiration the legend stood for.