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UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming debut to his career under recent management with a points victory over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger found success, delivering effective individual punches in a fight where the techniques failed to mesh, with excessive holding marring the fight.

The scoring judges judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.

"It wasn't my greatest performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was greeted with disapproval from the crowd.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.

Some ringside observers thought the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.

The Champion Earns Triumph in Slow Affair

Buatsi's progress has stalled in the past few years through management issues and considerable time of lack of fights.

Once tipped as the next star of UK boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.

He started carefully, with neither fighter ready to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.

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

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to edge the better rounds.

The spectators' acceptance diminished because of constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.

The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.

The victor advances, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.

Hatton Homage Fuels All-Manchester Fight

In the secondary fight, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester battle to capture the European light-heavyweight championship.

The arena became quiet for a profoundly moving memorial ahead of the contest as ten bells tolled in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in September.

It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the last bell ended, the stillness transitioned to a chant of "only one Hatton".

The fighting within the ring matched the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch directly to the jaw in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.

But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged early, heavy swelling developing under his face as the duo exchanged powerful shots.

The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over twelve rounds.

Arthur barely secured the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, narrow lead and wider gap, but each competitor were relentless and courageous, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton stood for.