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British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective individual punches in a contest where the styles failed to mesh, with excessive holding disrupting the fight.

The scoring judges had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.

"It wasn't my best showing but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was greeted with negative reactions from the spectators.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th pro success.

Several boxing experts felt Parker, thirty-one, merited the decision but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second setback of his 28-fight career.

Buatsi Earns Triumph in Slow Match

Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - maybe in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.

He started carefully, with the two boxers ready to be aggressive in a tentative early stages.

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

By the halfway stage, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the better rounds.

The audience's tolerance decreased amid regular grabbing, with the challenger going down several times during clinches.

The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor moves on, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Local Rivalry Fight

In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent all-Manchester contest to secure the continental belt.

The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial prior to the bout as 10 bells tolled in memory of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in September.

It was the premier televised match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the final chime ended, the quiet gave way to a shout of "there's just one Hatton".

The fighting during the bout matched the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch directly to the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.

But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, significant bruising forming under his face as the fighters exchanged powerful shots.

The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over the full distance.

Arthur barely secured the decision with scoring tallies of draw, 115-113 and 115-112, but both fighters were persistent and courageous, exactly what their inspiration Hatton embodied.