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British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive debut to his career under new promoters with a decision win over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a split decision in a close ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.

But Parker found success, connecting with powerful single shots in a fight where the approaches didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching marring the fight.

The officials judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my best performance but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was greeted with disapproval from the crowd.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th pro success.

Several boxing experts felt Parker, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.

Buatsi Claims Victory in Uneventful Match

Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the future of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.

He began cautiously, with neither fighter ready to take risks in a cagey early stages.

The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second appearance at light-heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to edge the better periods.

The crowd's patience wore thin amid constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during clinches.

Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.

The victor moves on, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.

Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Battle

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester battle to capture the continental championship.

The stadium became quiet for a deeply poignant homage before the fight as 10 bells tolled in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in September.

It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound faded, the stillness gave way to a chant of "there's only one Hatton".

The competition within the ring matched the feeling. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch directly to the chin in the early round, rising shakily to his footing on the referee's count.

But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up early, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the pair landed punishing blows.

Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.

Arthur edged the verdict with scoring tallies of draw, narrow lead and 115-112, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their hero the legend embodied.