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UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.

But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the approaches never quite clicked, with constant grabbing disrupting the fight.

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

"It wasn't my greatest display but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi said in the ring as he was greeted with disapproval from the spectators.

The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.

Various analysts believed Parker, thirty-one, merited the win but the British boxer endured the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.

Buatsi Earns Victory in Uneventful Affair

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

Earlier forecast as the rising talent of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.

He began cautiously, with both competitors willing to overcommit in a calculated early stages.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.

The spectators' acceptance diminished because of constant clinching, with Parker going down multiple occasions during clinches.

Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still looks steep.

Hatton Memorial Inspires All-Manchester Battle

In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry battle to win the European light heavyweight championship.

The stadium became quiet for a extremely emotional homage before the fight as ten bells sounded in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.

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 "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes reflected the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch directly to the face in the second round, rising shakily to his footing on the eight count.

But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured soon, noticeable damage forming under his face as the pair traded powerful shots.

Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over the full distance.

The victor barely secured the decision with scoring tallies of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and courageous, all the qualities their idol the legend stood for.