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UK light heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.

But Parker had his moments, delivering effective individual punches in a match where the approaches didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the action.

The officials judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.

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

The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.

Some ringside observers felt Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.

The Champion Claims Victory in Dull Encounter

The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.

He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to take risks in a tentative early stages.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second appearance at the higher weight class.

By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to barely take the cleaner stanzas.

The audience's tolerance decreased during regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor several times during clinches.

Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates All-Manchester Contest

In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific local rivalry contest to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.

The arena fell silent for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.

It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the city since Hatton's death. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet became a roar of "there's just one Hatton".

The competition during the bout reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow squarely on the chin in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his footing on the count of eight.

But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising developing under his eye as the pair exchanged powerful shots.

The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over 12 rounds.

The victor edged the verdict with official scores of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but both fighters were relentless and brave, everything their idol the legend embodied.