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UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive beginning to his career under new promoters with a decision win over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a split decision in a close 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger had his moments, connecting with powerful single shots in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the action.

Two judges had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.

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

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th career victory.

Several boxing experts believed the challenger, 31, merited the victory but the British boxer endured the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.

Buatsi Secures Victory in Dull Encounter

The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent times through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.

He started carefully, with both competitors ready to take risks in a cagey opening few rounds.

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class 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 fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the cleaner stanzas.

The spectators' acceptance wore thin during constant clinching, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during clinches.

The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.

The victor moves on, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still seems difficult.

Hatton Memorial Motivates All-Manchester Fight

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry fight to win the continental championship.

The venue fell silent for a deeply poignant memorial before the fight as ten bells rang in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.

It was the first major televised fight night in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell faded, the silence transitioned to a shout of "there's only one Hatton".

The fighting during the bout matched the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow directly to the chin in the initial stage, rising shakily to his footing on the referee's count.

But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged early, noticeable damage developing under his face as the fighters traded hard punches.

Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over 12 rounds.

Arthur barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, 115-113 and 115-112, but each competitor were persistent and courageous, all the qualities their idol Hatton embodied.