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UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Parker in the Manchester arena.

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

But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective single shots in a contest where the techniques failed to mesh, with constant grabbing disrupting the contest.

The scoring judges had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a even score.

"It wasn't my best performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was faced negative reactions from the crowd.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.

Some ringside observers felt the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second defeat of his 28-fight career.

The Champion Claims Triumph in Uneventful Affair

Buatsi's progress has stalled in the past few years through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.

Once tipped as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.

He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to be aggressive in a tentative early stages.

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.

By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to barely take the cleaner stanzas.

The audience's tolerance diminished amid constant clinching, with Parker going down multiple occasions during clinches.

The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.

The victor progresses, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still appears challenging.

Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Battle

In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding local rivalry contest to secure the continental title.

The venue became quiet for a extremely emotional memorial before the fight as 10 bells sounded in honor of local hero Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the final chime faded, the quiet transitioned to a roar of "only one Hatton".

The competition within the ring equaled the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook directly to the chin in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his position on the count of eight.

But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage forming under his face as the fighters landed powerful shots.

The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.

The victor edged the decision with judges scorecards of draw, 115-113 and wider gap, but the two athletes were persistent and courageous, all the qualities their hero Hatton embodied.