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British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing debut to life under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Parker in Manchester.

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

But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful clean blows in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the fight.

The officials had it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.

"It wasn't my best showing but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was faced negative reactions from the crowd.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.

Several boxing experts felt Parker, thirty-one, deserved the win but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-match career.

Buatsi Claims Win in Uneventful Encounter

Buatsi's progress has stalled in the past few years through contract problems and extended periods of lack of fights.

Once tipped as the future of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.

He began cautiously, with both competitors ready to be aggressive in a calculated early stages.

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was participating in his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to edge the cleaner stanzas.

The audience's tolerance diminished amid constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor several times during clinches.

Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi advances, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still appears challenging.

Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Contest

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a excellent local rivalry contest to win the continental title.

The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional memorial prior to the bout as ten bells rang in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in last month.

It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the city since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the silence transitioned to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The competition within the ring reflected the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook flush on the jaw in the initial stage, rising shakily to his position on the eight count.

But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up quickly, significant bruising appearing under his orbital area as the pair exchanged powerful shots.

The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over 12 rounds.

Arthur edged the result with official scores of 114-114, 115-113 and 115-112, but both fighters were relentless and full of heart, everything their idol the legend represented.