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UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing start to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a majority decision in a close ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a contest where the techniques didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching disrupting the action.

The officials had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the third a even score.

"It wasn't my greatest showing but how do champions respond? They win," the victor commented in the arena as he was met by negative reactions from the spectators.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.

Some ringside observers felt the challenger, thirty-one, merited the victory but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.

Buatsi Earns Triumph in Uneventful Affair

His career development has slowed in recent times through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.

Once tipped as the next star of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.

He began cautiously, with neither fighter ready to overcommit in a cagey opening few rounds.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight 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 middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to edge the more effective stanzas.

The spectators' acceptance wore thin because of constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.

The underdog closed well, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still appears challenging.

Hatton Homage Motivates All-Manchester Contest

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a terrific all-Manchester fight to win the continental belt.

The venue fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony rang in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in last month.

It was the premier televised fight night in the city since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound faded, the quiet transitioned to a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes equaled the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow directly to the chin in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.

But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was damaged early, significant bruising forming under his orbital area as the fighters landed hard punches.

The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over 12 rounds.

Arthur barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and clearer margin, but the two athletes were determined and full of heart, everything their hero the legend stood for.