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UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to life under new promoters with a decision win over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.

But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling individual punches in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing disrupting the contest.

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

"It wasn't my greatest performance but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was greeted with disapproval from the crowd.

The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th pro success.

Various analysts thought the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.

The Champion Earns Win in Dull Match

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

Once tipped as the future of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to realize his potential - maybe in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.

He began cautiously, with the two boxers prepared to overcommit in a calculated initial rounds.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was competing in only his second appearance at light-heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to edge the cleaner rounds.

The crowd's patience decreased amid regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during close exchanges.

The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.

Hatton Tribute Motivates Manchester Derby Contest

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester contest to capture the continental title.

The venue grew hushed for a extremely emotional memorial ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in September.

It was the first major televised fight night in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell ended, the silence became a roar of "only one Hatton".

The action during the bout matched the feeling. Arthur was floored by a significant blow directly to the chin in the second round, rising shakily to his footing on the count of eight.

But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged early, heavy swelling forming under his face as the duo landed punishing blows.

The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over 12 rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of draw, close margin and clearer margin, but both fighters were determined and brave, exactly what their idol the legend represented.