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UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.

But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful individual punches in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing disrupting the action.

The officials had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.

"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They win," the victor said in the ringside as he was met by boos from the spectators.

The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th career victory.

Some ringside observers believed Parker, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the British boxer experienced the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.

The Champion Secures Triumph in Dull Encounter

His career development has slowed in recent times through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.

He opened tentatively, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a tentative opening few rounds.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand in the contest, was participating in his second fight at light-heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective rounds.

The crowd's patience diminished during constant clinching, with the challenger going down several times during close exchanges.

The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi advances, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.

Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Fight

In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry fight to capture the European light heavyweight championship.

The arena grew hushed for a profoundly moving tribute prior to the bout as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised boxing event in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell disappeared, the silence gave way to a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The action during the bout reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook squarely on the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his position on the eight count.

But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the fighters exchanged punishing blows.

The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over the full distance.

The victor narrowly won the result with scoring tallies of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but both fighters were persistent and brave, everything their inspiration Hatton embodied.