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UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing beginning to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a majority decision in a tight 10-round bout at the boxing arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful individual punches in a fight where the styles didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the fight.

The scoring judges judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my best display but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was greeted with boos from the spectators.

The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.

Several boxing experts thought the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.

The Champion Claims Triumph in Dull Affair

The fighter's advancement has plateaued in the past few years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.

Once tipped as the future of British boxing, he now stands 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 take risks in a tentative initial rounds.

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second fight at light-heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the more effective rounds.

The crowd's patience decreased amid constant clinching, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during clinches.

The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.

The victor advances, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels All-Manchester Battle

In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester fight to win the continental championship.

The arena fell silent for a extremely emotional homage before the fight as 10 bells tolled in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.

It was the first major televised fight night in the location since Hatton's death. As the final chime ended, the stillness became a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The action during the bout matched the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch directly to the chin in the second round, rising shakily to his feet on the eight count.

But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged quickly, significant bruising appearing under his face as the fighters exchanged powerful shots.

The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over 12 rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but both fighters were relentless and brave, exactly what their inspiration the legend stood for.