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

The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a split decision in a competitive 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective individual punches in a contest where the approaches never quite clicked, with constant grabbing disrupting the action.

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

"It wasn't my greatest display but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was met by negative reactions from the crowd.

The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.

Some ringside observers felt Parker, 31, merited the decision but the British boxer endured the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.

Buatsi Claims Win in Dull Affair

Buatsi's progress has slowed in the past few years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.

Once tipped as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.

He started carefully, with the two boxers ready to be aggressive in a tentative opening few rounds.

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was participating in his second appearance at light heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective rounds.

The crowd's patience wore thin during regular grabbing, with Parker going down multiple occasions during grappling.

The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.

Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Contest

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry fight to secure the European light-heavyweight title.

The stadium became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony sounded in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.

It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound disappeared, the quiet gave way to a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting inside the ropes reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow squarely on the face in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the referee's count.

But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, heavy swelling developing under his orbital area as the pair exchanged punishing blows.

The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over twelve rounds.

Arthur edged the verdict with official scores of even score, 115-113 and clearer margin, but each competitor were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their hero the legend stood for.