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British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming debut to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective single shots in a fight where the styles never quite clicked, with constant grabbing spoiling the contest.

The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.

"It wasn't my greatest display but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was faced boos from the crowd.

The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.

Several boxing experts thought the challenger, 31, merited the decision but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.

The Champion Secures Victory in Slow Match

The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent times through promotional disputes and considerable time of lack of fights.

Earlier forecast as the future of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what appears to be a last chance - under new promotional backing.

He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to be aggressive in a calculated opening few rounds.

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to edge the cleaner periods.

The crowd's patience wore thin amid frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during close exchanges.

Parker closed well, but many rounds were hard to judge. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor advances, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still appears challenging.

Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Fight

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester fight to win the continental championship.

The stadium became quiet for a deeply poignant tribute prior to the bout as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in recently.

It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound faded, the silence became a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow directly to the chin in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the count of eight.

But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was injured quickly, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the fighters traded hard punches.

The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.

The victor barely secured the verdict with official scores of even score, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were persistent and full of heart, exactly what their idol Hatton stood for.