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UK light heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing start to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a split decision in a close 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful single shots in a fight where the styles failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the fight.

The scoring judges scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my greatest showing but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was faced boos from the spectators.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.

Various analysts felt Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the contender experienced the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.

The Champion Earns Victory in Slow Affair

His career development has plateaued in recent years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.

He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to take risks in a cagey initial rounds.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was participating in his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to edge the cleaner stanzas.

The spectators' acceptance wore thin during regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during close exchanges.

The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.

The victor progresses, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.

Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Contest

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester battle to capture the European light heavyweight belt.

The stadium grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony sounded in memory of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.

It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the city since Hatton's passing. As the final chime disappeared, the quiet transitioned to a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting inside the ropes reflected the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow squarely on the face in the early round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the referee's count.

But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured soon, heavy swelling forming under his eye as the duo traded punishing blows.

The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the intensity seldom decreased over 12 rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the decision with official scores of 114-114, 115-113 and 115-112, but both fighters were relentless and brave, exactly what their hero the legend embodied.