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British light-heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing beginning to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round contest at the boxing arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective individual punches in a match where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the contest.

The officials had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.

"It wasn't my finest showing but how do champions respond? They win," the victor stated in the arena as he was met by boos from the spectators.

The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th pro success.

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

The Champion Earns Triumph in Slow Encounter

His career development has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the next star of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.

He started carefully, with both competitors prepared to be aggressive in a calculated opening few rounds.

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second appearance at light-heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to edge the cleaner periods.

The audience's tolerance wore thin because of constant clinching, with Parker going down several times during grappling.

Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor moves on, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates Manchester Derby Battle

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry fight to capture the continental championship.

The arena became quiet for a extremely emotional homage before the fight as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in September.

It was the premier televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet transitioned to a shout of "only one Hatton".

The action within the ring equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the second round, rising shakily to his footing on the count of eight.

But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage developing under his face as the pair landed hard punches.

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

Arthur narrowly won the verdict with official scores of 114-114, 115-113 and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and full of heart, exactly what their hero the legend represented.