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British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing start to life under recent management with a decision win over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.

But Parker found success, connecting with powerful single shots in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with excessive holding spoiling the action.

Two judges judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a even score.

"It wasn't my finest display but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was greeted with negative reactions from the spectators.

The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th pro success.

Various analysts thought the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the contender experienced the second setback of his 28-match career.

Buatsi Secures Triumph in Dull Match

His career development has stalled in the past few years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the rising talent of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.

He opened tentatively, with neither fighter prepared to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was competing in only his second bout at light-heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to edge the better stanzas.

The crowd's patience decreased during constant clinching, with the challenger going down various instances during clinches.

Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. However, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.

The victor moves on, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires All-Manchester Fight

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific all-Manchester battle to win the European light-heavyweight championship.

The arena grew hushed for a profoundly moving memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony rang in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in last month.

It was the premier televised match card in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound ended, the stillness transitioned to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting during the bout reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch squarely on the chin in the second round, rising shakily to his footing on the eight count.

But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in competitive blue - was injured quickly, heavy swelling forming under his face as the pair exchanged punishing blows.

The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.

Arthur edged the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, everything their hero Hatton represented.