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UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming start to life under recent management with a decision win over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level likely gained him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round bout at the boxing arena.

But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective single shots in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the action.

The officials scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my greatest performance but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi said in the ring as he was met by boos from the audience.

The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.

Some ringside observers felt Parker, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the British boxer endured the second setback of his 28-fight career.

The Champion Claims Win in Uneventful Affair

Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent times through management issues and long spells of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.

He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to overcommit in a calculated initial rounds.

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was making just his second appearance at the higher weight class.

By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to narrowly win the better periods.

The crowd's patience diminished during frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during grappling.

Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.

Hatton Memorial Inspires Local Rivalry Contest

In the secondary fight, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester battle to win the continental championship.

The venue grew hushed for a profoundly moving tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in last month.

It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime ended, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "there's only one Hatton".

The fighting inside the ropes reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch squarely on the chin in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the eight count.

But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage appearing under his eye as the pair landed powerful shots.

Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over twelve rounds.

The victor narrowly won the result with official scores of 114-114, narrow lead and clearer margin, but the two athletes were determined and full of heart, exactly what their inspiration the legend represented.