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UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming start to life under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a split decision in a close ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the approaches didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching marring the contest.

The scoring judges scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.

"It wasn't my best display but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor commented in the ringside as he was met by boos from the spectators.

The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th career victory.

Several boxing experts believed the challenger, 31, deserved the decision but the contender suffered the second defeat of his 28-match career.

Buatsi Earns Triumph in Dull Affair

The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent years through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.

Previously predicted as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.

He started carefully, with neither fighter ready to take risks in a calculated early stages.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand in the contest, was making just his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a solid defense to barely take the better stanzas.

The audience's tolerance diminished during regular grabbing, with Parker going down several times during grappling.

Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still appears challenging.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Contest

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding all-Manchester fight to win the European light-heavyweight belt.

The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant homage before the fight as a bell ceremony sounded in honor of local hero Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in recently.

It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound disappeared, the silence gave way to a shout of "there's just one Hatton".

The action within the ring reflected the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch directly to the face in the initial stage, rising shakily to his position on the referee's count.

But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured early, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the pair traded powerful shots.

Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over the full distance.

The victor barely secured the decision with scoring tallies of even score, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were persistent and brave, everything their inspiration the legend embodied.