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British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level likely gained him a split decision in a tight 10-round fight at the boxing arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the styles failed to mesh, with frequent clinching marring the action.

The officials scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a even score.

"It wasn't my finest performance but what do champions do? They win," the victor said in the arena as he was met by negative reactions from the audience.

The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.

Several boxing experts thought the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.

The Champion Earns Victory in Uneventful Encounter

Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent times through promotional disputes and considerable time of lack of fights.

Previously predicted as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.

He started carefully, with both competitors ready to be aggressive in a calculated opening few rounds.

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second bout at light-heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.

The audience's tolerance wore thin because of regular grabbing, with the challenger going down several times during close exchanges.

The underdog closed well, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.

The victor progresses, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels All-Manchester Battle

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester contest to secure the European light-heavyweight belt.

The stadium became quiet for a deeply poignant homage before the fight as ten bells sounded in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in recently.

It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the quiet became a chant of "there's only one Hatton".

The action inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch directly to the chin in the initial stage, rising shakily to his position on the count of eight.

But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage forming under his face as the fighters landed powerful shots.

Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over the full distance.

Arthur barely secured the decision with scoring tallies of draw, close margin and 115-112, but each competitor were determined and courageous, all the qualities their idol the legend embodied.