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UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive beginning to life under recent management with a decision win over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round contest at the boxing arena.

But Parker had his moments, delivering effective individual punches in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the contest.

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

"It wasn't my greatest performance but how do champions respond? They win," the victor said in the arena as he was greeted with boos from the spectators.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.

Some ringside observers felt the challenger, 31, deserved the victory but the contender suffered the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.

Buatsi Earns Win in Dull Encounter

His career development has stalled in recent times through promotional disputes and long spells of lack of fights.

Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - possibly in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.

He started carefully, with both competitors ready to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was making just his second bout at light-heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a solid defense to barely take the more effective rounds.

The crowd's patience wore thin amid frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.

The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi advances, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Local Rivalry Battle

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a excellent all-Manchester battle to win the European light-heavyweight title.

The venue grew hushed for a profoundly moving homage ahead of the contest as ten bells tolled in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in last month.

It was the premier televised match card in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell disappeared, the silence gave way to a shout of "there's just one Hatton".

The action inside the ropes equaled the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch directly to the jaw in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the eight count.

But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged early, noticeable damage developing under his face as the fighters landed powerful shots.

The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.

Arthur edged the decision with official scores of draw, close margin and clearer margin, but each competitor were persistent and courageous, everything their inspiration Hatton embodied.