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UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming beginning to life under new promoters with a points victory over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker found success, landing some telling individual punches in a match where the approaches didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching marring the action.

The scoring judges had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my finest display but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor commented in the ring as he was faced boos from the crowd.

The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.

Several boxing experts believed Parker, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second loss of his 28-match career.

Buatsi Earns Triumph in Dull Affair

His career development has stalled in recent times through contract problems and extended periods of lack of fights.

Earlier forecast as the future of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.

He started carefully, with neither fighter willing to take risks in a tentative opening few rounds.

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was making just his second fight at light-heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to narrowly win the cleaner periods.

The audience's tolerance diminished amid frequent holding, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during grappling.

The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor moves on, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.

Hatton Tribute Inspires All-Manchester Contest

In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific local rivalry battle to capture the European light-heavyweight title.

The stadium became quiet for a deeply poignant homage ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in last month.

It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the city since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet gave way to a shout of "there's only one Hatton".

The competition during the bout equaled the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow directly to the jaw in the second round, rising shakily to his feet on the count of eight.

But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage developing under his orbital area as the pair exchanged powerful shots.

The challenger, 27, landed power punches but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the pace hardly diminished over the full distance.

Arthur edged the decision with judges scorecards of even score, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were relentless and brave, all the qualities their idol the legend embodied.