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UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing debut 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 judges' verdict in a close 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker found success, connecting with powerful single shots in a contest where the styles failed to mesh, with frequent clinching disrupting the fight.

The scoring judges had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.

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

The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.

Several boxing experts believed the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.

The Champion Secures Win in Dull Match

Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through promotional disputes and long spells of lack of fights.

Earlier forecast as the rising talent of British boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.

He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to overcommit in a tentative opening few rounds.

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand in the contest, was participating in his second bout at light heavyweight.

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

The crowd's patience decreased during frequent holding, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during close exchanges.

Parker closed well, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.

The victor advances, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still appears challenging.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates All-Manchester Battle

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester contest to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.

The arena fell silent for a extremely emotional homage before the fight as 10 bells rang in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in September.

It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell faded, the stillness became a shout of "there's just one Hatton".

The action within the ring reflected the feeling. Arthur was floored by a significant blow directly to the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the count of eight.

But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured quickly, significant bruising developing under his face as the duo traded punishing blows.

The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over 12 rounds.

Arthur edged the decision with judges scorecards of even score, close margin and clearer margin, but each competitor were relentless and courageous, everything their hero the legend embodied.