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UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a split decision in a tight 10-round bout at the boxing arena.

But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling clean blows in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the contest.

Two judges scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.

"It wasn't my finest showing but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor said in the ringside as he was faced disapproval from the crowd.

The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.

Some ringside observers felt Parker, thirty-one, merited the victory but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.

Buatsi Secures Win in Dull Match

Buatsi's progress has plateaued in the past few years through management issues and long spells of lack of fights.

Once tipped as the next star of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.

He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to take risks in a cagey opening few rounds.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was competing in only his second bout at light-heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to edge the better stanzas.

The spectators' acceptance decreased because of regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during grappling.

Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. However, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still looks steep.

Hatton Homage Fuels Manchester Derby Contest

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.

The stadium became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial before the fight as 10 bells sounded in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who died 46 years old in September.

It was the first major televised fight night in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime faded, the silence gave way to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".

The fighting within the ring equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch squarely on the face in the early round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the count of eight.

But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up early, noticeable damage developing under his orbital area as the fighters landed powerful shots.

Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over 12 rounds.

The victor narrowly won the verdict with official scores of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but the two athletes were relentless and brave, all the qualities their hero Hatton embodied.