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UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a close 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling single shots in a fight where the styles never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the fight.

Two judges had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.

"It wasn't my best showing but how do champions respond? They win," the victor stated in the ring as he was greeted with boos from the audience.

The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th career victory.

Several boxing experts thought Parker, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.

Buatsi Claims Win in Uneventful Affair

His career development has stalled in recent years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.

Once tipped as the next star of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.

He began cautiously, with the two boxers ready to overcommit in a calculated early stages.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was competing in only his second appearance at the higher weight class.

By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to barely take the cleaner rounds.

The spectators' acceptance wore thin amid constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during grappling.

Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Although, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi advances, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.

Hatton Homage Inspires Local Rivalry Battle

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester battle to capture the continental title.

The stadium became quiet for a profoundly moving tribute prior to the bout as a bell ceremony tolled in memory of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.

It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the final chime ended, the stillness transitioned to a shout of "there's just one Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow squarely on the face in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the eight count.

But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage forming under his face as the fighters exchanged powerful shots.

The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over twelve rounds.

Arthur edged the result with official scores of draw, close margin and wider gap, but the two athletes were persistent and brave, exactly what their idol the legend represented.