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UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive debut to life under new promoters with a decision win over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a split decision in a competitive 10-round bout at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger found success, landing some telling individual punches in a contest where the techniques failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the fight.

Two judges had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.

"It wasn't my finest showing but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor commented in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the audience.

The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.

Various analysts felt the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.

The Champion Secures Win in Slow Encounter

Buatsi's progress has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.

Once tipped as the future of British boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.

He started carefully, with the two boxers ready to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was participating in his second bout at light-heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to edge the more effective periods.

The audience's tolerance wore thin amid frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor several times during clinches.

Parker closed well, but multiple periods were hard to judge. However, 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.

The victor advances, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still seems difficult.

Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Contest

In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a terrific local rivalry battle to secure the continental championship.

The stadium fell silent for a extremely emotional homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.

It was the first major televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's death. As the final chime ended, the stillness gave way to a shout of "only one Hatton".

The fighting within the ring matched the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow directly to the face in the early round, rising shakily to his footing on the count of eight.

But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the fighters landed hard punches.

Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the pace hardly diminished over twelve rounds.

The victor narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of draw, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, all the qualities their hero the legend embodied.