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British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming start to his career under recent management with a points victory over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round contest at the boxing arena.

But the challenger found success, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing spoiling the contest.

The scoring judges judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.

"It wasn't my best showing but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was met by negative reactions from the audience.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.

Some ringside observers thought Parker, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the British boxer experienced the second setback of his 28-bout career.

The Champion Earns Triumph in Slow Match

His career development has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the next star of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - maybe in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.

He began cautiously, with the two boxers ready to take risks in a calculated initial rounds.

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second appearance at light-heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to barely take the cleaner periods.

The audience's tolerance diminished amid regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during grappling.

Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Homage Fuels Manchester Derby Battle

In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent local rivalry contest to win the European light-heavyweight title.

The stadium fell silent for a deeply poignant memorial ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony rang in memory of Manchester's own Ricky 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 final chime ended, the stillness gave way to a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The competition during the bout matched the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch flush on the chin in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the referee's count.

But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged early, heavy swelling forming under his orbital area as the fighters exchanged punishing blows.

The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the result with scoring tallies of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their hero Hatton represented.