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

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a competitive 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.

But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.

The officials scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95.

"It wasn't my greatest performance but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor stated in the ringside as he was faced negative reactions from the audience.

The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.

Several boxing experts believed the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the win but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.

Buatsi Earns Win in Slow Affair

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

Earlier forecast as the future of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under recent support.

He opened tentatively, with neither fighter willing to overcommit in a calculated initial rounds.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to barely take the better stanzas.

The crowd's patience diminished amid frequent holding, with the challenger going down various instances during close exchanges.

The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires Local Rivalry Battle

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry contest to win the European light heavyweight belt.

The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial prior to the bout as 10 bells tolled in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who died at age 46 in September.

It was the first major televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the stillness gave way to a chant of "only one Hatton".

The action during the bout reflected the emotion. Arthur was floored by a left hook directly to the chin in the early round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the count of eight.

But the red-colored attire of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged soon, significant bruising appearing under his face as the fighters landed hard punches.

The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.

Arthur edged the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, 115-113 and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and courageous, everything their hero the legend embodied.