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

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round fight at the boxing arena.

But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective individual punches in a fight where the styles never quite clicked, with constant grabbing spoiling the contest.

The scoring judges had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my finest performance but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was faced boos from the crowd.

The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th pro success.

Several boxing experts felt the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.

The Champion Earns Win in Dull Match

The fighter's advancement has slowed in the past few years through management issues and long spells of lack of fights.

Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to realize his potential - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.

He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to take risks in a tentative opening few rounds.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to narrowly win the cleaner rounds.

The crowd's patience decreased during constant clinching, with Parker going down various instances during close exchanges.

The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still looks steep.

Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Contest

In the secondary fight, Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a outstanding local rivalry contest to capture the continental title.

The venue grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage prior to the bout as ten bells rang in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in last month.

It was the premier televised fight night in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound disappeared, the quiet transitioned to a shout of "there's only one Hatton".

The action within the ring reflected the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch squarely on the chin in the early round, rising shakily to his footing on the referee's count.

But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured early, noticeable damage forming under his orbital area as the fighters exchanged punishing blows.

Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.

Arthur barely secured the result with official scores of 114-114, 115-113 and 115-112, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, exactly what their inspiration Hatton represented.