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British light-heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to life under new promoters with a points victory over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a close 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective individual punches in a match where the techniques failed to mesh, with constant grabbing disrupting the contest.

The scoring judges had it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.

"It wasn't my best performance but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was faced disapproval from the spectators.

The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.

Various analysts believed Parker, 31, should have been awarded the win but the contender suffered the second loss of his 28-fight career.

The Champion Earns Triumph in Slow Affair

The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent times through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.

He opened tentatively, with the two boxers prepared to take risks in a cagey opening few rounds.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.

The spectators' acceptance decreased during constant clinching, with Parker going down various instances during clinches.

The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.

Hatton Homage Fuels All-Manchester Battle

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a terrific all-Manchester battle to win the European light heavyweight championship.

The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as 10 bells rang in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in September.

It was the premier televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound ended, the quiet became a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The competition during the bout matched the emotion. Arthur was floored by a significant blow directly to the jaw in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the eight count.

But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured soon, significant bruising appearing under his orbital area as the pair exchanged powerful shots.

The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over twelve rounds.

Arthur barely secured the result with judges scorecards of 114-114, narrow lead and clearer margin, but each competitor were determined and full of heart, exactly what their hero Hatton stood for.