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British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing debut to life under new promoters with a points victory over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a majority decision in a tight 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger had his moments, connecting with powerful individual punches in a match where the approaches didn't complement each other, with excessive holding marring the contest.

Two judges had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my best performance but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor commented in the ringside as he was faced disapproval from the spectators.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.

Various analysts believed the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the win but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second loss of his 28-bout career.

Buatsi Earns Victory in Uneventful Affair

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

Once tipped as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.

He started carefully, with neither fighter ready to be aggressive in a cagey early stages.

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was participating in his second bout at light-heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a solid defense to edge the more effective periods.

The audience's tolerance decreased because of constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during grappling.

Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor advances, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.

Hatton Homage Motivates All-Manchester Fight

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific local rivalry fight to capture the European light heavyweight championship.

The venue grew hushed for a profoundly moving memorial prior to the bout as 10 bells rang in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in September.

It was the premier televised fight night in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell faded, the quiet became a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The competition within the ring matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook flush on the chin in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.

But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged soon, significant bruising appearing under his orbital area as the pair exchanged powerful shots.

The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over the full distance.

The victor narrowly won the decision with official scores of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but each competitor were persistent and full of heart, everything their hero Hatton stood for.