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British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming beginning to his career under recent management with a points victory over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a majority decision in a tight ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker found success, connecting with powerful individual punches in a contest where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.

Two judges judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my finest showing but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor stated in the ring as he was faced boos from the audience.

The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th career victory.

Several boxing experts believed Parker, 31, deserved the decision but the British boxer experienced the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.

Buatsi Earns Triumph in Uneventful Match

His career development has slowed in recent years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the future of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - possibly in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.

He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a calculated initial rounds.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner periods.

The audience's tolerance decreased during regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.

Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still looks steep.

Hatton Memorial Motivates Manchester Derby Fight

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a outstanding all-Manchester contest to win the European light-heavyweight championship.

The venue grew hushed for a deeply poignant tribute ahead of the contest as 10 bells rang in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.

It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound disappeared, the quiet became a roar of "only one Hatton".

The fighting inside the ropes reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow squarely on the chin in the early round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the count of eight.

But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up early, significant bruising developing under his eye as the pair exchanged powerful shots.

The challenger, 27, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.

The victor edged the verdict with judges scorecards of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but the two athletes were determined and brave, all the qualities their idol Hatton stood for.