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

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling clean blows in a fight where the approaches failed to mesh, with excessive holding marring the fight.

The scoring judges had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my greatest showing but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was met by boos from the spectators.

The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.

Various analysts believed the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.

Buatsi Claims Triumph in Slow Affair

The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent years through management issues and long spells of inactivity.

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

He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to be aggressive in a cagey initial rounds.

The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to barely take the cleaner stanzas.

The audience's tolerance decreased during frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during grappling.

Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.

The victor advances, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still seems difficult.

Hatton Tribute Motivates All-Manchester Fight

In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent local rivalry fight to capture the continental belt.

The stadium became quiet for a profoundly moving tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in honor of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.

It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound ended, the stillness gave way to a shout of "only one Hatton".

The action inside the ropes matched the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow directly to the face in the initial stage, rising shakily to his feet on the referee's count.

But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, heavy swelling appearing under his face as the pair traded hard punches.

Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over 12 rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the decision with scoring tallies of draw, 115-113 and wider gap, but the two athletes were relentless and courageous, exactly what their hero the legend stood for.