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British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming debut to his career under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a close 10-round bout at the boxing arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a contest where the techniques failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the fight.

The scoring judges had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.

"It wasn't my finest display but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was greeted with disapproval from the audience.

The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.

Several boxing experts believed Parker, 31, deserved the decision but the British boxer experienced the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.

Buatsi Claims Triumph in Uneventful Match

Buatsi's progress has slowed in the past few years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.

He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second fight at light heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to barely take the better stanzas.

The crowd's patience decreased during regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.

The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.

The victor progresses, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.

Hatton Tribute Inspires Local Rivalry Battle

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to secure the European light-heavyweight belt.

The venue grew hushed for a profoundly moving homage ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony tolled in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.

It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the final chime disappeared, the quiet became a chant of "there's just one Hatton".

The action within the ring equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the jaw in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his feet on the eight count.

But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up quickly, significant bruising forming under his face as the fighters landed hard punches.

Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over the full distance.

Arthur narrowly won the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, narrow lead and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their hero Hatton represented.