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British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive beginning to his career under recent management with a decision win over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a majority decision in a close 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger found success, delivering effective single shots in a contest where the approaches failed to mesh, with excessive holding disrupting the contest.

Two judges had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.

"It wasn't my finest display but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was faced disapproval from the audience.

The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.

Various analysts thought Parker, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-match career.

Buatsi Earns Victory in Uneventful Affair

His career development has plateaued in recent years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.

Once tipped as the rising talent of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.

He opened tentatively, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a cagey early stages.

The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against John Ryder 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, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the more effective stanzas.

The audience's tolerance decreased amid constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during grappling.

The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates Manchester Derby Battle

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent local rivalry contest to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.

The stadium fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.

It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime ended, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "there's only one Hatton".

The competition within the ring matched the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow squarely on the jaw in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the referee's count.

But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, significant bruising forming under his face as the fighters traded punishing blows.

Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over 12 rounds.

The victor edged the result with judges scorecards of draw, narrow lead and clearer margin, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their hero Hatton stood for.