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UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive beginning to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.

But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a contest where the styles didn't complement each other, with excessive holding disrupting the fight.

Two judges scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.

"It wasn't my greatest display but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was met by negative reactions from the audience.

The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th career victory.

Some ringside observers believed the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second loss of his 28-match career.

Buatsi Claims Victory in Uneventful Match

The fighter's advancement has plateaued in the past few years through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.

Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.

He began cautiously, with neither fighter prepared to take risks in a calculated opening few rounds.

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second fight at light-heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the better periods.

The crowd's patience wore thin because of constant clinching, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during close exchanges.

Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. However, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still looks steep.

Hatton Memorial Inspires All-Manchester Battle

In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a excellent all-Manchester contest to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.

The stadium fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in last month.

It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness became a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The action inside the ropes reflected the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow directly to the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the referee's count.

But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged soon, significant bruising appearing under his orbital area as the fighters exchanged hard punches.

Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over 12 rounds.

Arthur barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, narrow lead and clearer margin, but each competitor were persistent and full of heart, exactly what their hero the legend embodied.