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British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive debut to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a majority decision in a tight ten-round bout at the boxing arena.

But the challenger found success, delivering effective individual punches in a match where the approaches failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the action.

The officials judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a 95-95.

"It wasn't my greatest showing but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was greeted with negative reactions from the spectators.

The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.

Various analysts thought the challenger, 31, deserved the victory but the British boxer experienced the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.

The Champion Earns Win in Slow Affair

Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.

He opened tentatively, with both competitors prepared to be aggressive in a calculated initial rounds.

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 participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to barely take the better stanzas.

The crowd's patience wore thin during frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.

Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still appears challenging.

Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Contest

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent all-Manchester battle to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.

The venue became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial prior to the bout as 10 bells sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky 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 last bell ended, the quiet became a chant of "only one Hatton".

The fighting during the bout equaled the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow squarely on the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.

But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged early, noticeable damage forming under his orbital area as the fighters traded punishing blows.

Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over 12 rounds.

The victor edged the verdict with official scores of draw, 115-113 and clearer margin, but both fighters were persistent and courageous, all the qualities their hero the legend stood for.