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UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing start to life under new promoters 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 competitive 10-round bout at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective single shots in a contest where the techniques failed to mesh, with frequent clinching marring the action.

The officials scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.

"It wasn't my greatest showing but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor said in the ring as he was met by disapproval from the spectators.

The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th career victory.

Some ringside observers believed the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second defeat of his 28-match career.

The Champion Claims Victory in Uneventful Match

His career development has stalled in recent times through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the next star of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - possibly in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.

He started carefully, with both competitors prepared to be aggressive in a tentative initial rounds.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was making just his second appearance at light-heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to barely take the cleaner periods.

The spectators' acceptance diminished during regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during clinches.

The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor progresses, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.

Hatton Tribute Fuels Local Rivalry Contest

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent all-Manchester fight to secure the European light heavyweight championship.

The stadium became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial ahead of the contest as ten bells sounded in honor of the city's native Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in recently.

It was the first major televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound disappeared, the silence became a chant of "only one Hatton".

The action inside the ropes equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the jaw in the second round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the eight count.

But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured soon, significant bruising developing under his eye as the pair traded hard punches.

Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over 12 rounds.

The victor edged the result with official scores of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but both fighters were determined and brave, exactly what their hero Hatton embodied.