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UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming beginning to life under recent management with a points victory over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a split decision in a competitive ten-round fight at the boxing arena.

But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful clean blows in a match where the styles failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the fight.

The scoring judges had it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a 95-95.

"It wasn't my greatest display but how do champions respond? They win," the victor said in the arena as he was met by boos from the spectators.

The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.

Several boxing experts felt the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the contender endured the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.

The Champion Secures Triumph in Slow Affair

His career development has stalled in the past few years through management issues and long spells of inactivity.

Once tipped as the rising talent of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.

He opened tentatively, with the two boxers prepared to take risks in a calculated early stages.

The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a solid defense to edge the better periods.

The spectators' acceptance diminished because of regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.

Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still looks steep.

Hatton Memorial Inspires Local Rivalry Contest

In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent all-Manchester battle to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.

The venue became quiet for a extremely emotional homage prior to the bout as 10 bells tolled in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in recently.

It was the first major televised fight night in the city since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound disappeared, the quiet gave way to a shout of "there's just one Hatton".

The fighting inside the ropes matched the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow directly to the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the eight count.

But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured early, heavy swelling forming under his face as the fighters traded powerful shots.

Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over twelve rounds.

The victor barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, 115-113 and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and courageous, all the qualities their idol the legend represented.