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British light heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming start to life under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.

But Parker had his moments, landing some telling single shots in a fight where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing spoiling the action.

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

"It wasn't my best showing but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor commented in the arena as he was met by disapproval from the spectators.

The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.

Some ringside observers felt the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the contender endured the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.

Buatsi Secures Victory in Slow Affair

His career development has stalled in recent times through promotional disputes and considerable time of lack of fights.

Once tipped as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what feels like a last chance - under recent support.

He opened tentatively, with neither fighter willing to take risks in a calculated opening few rounds.

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was competing in only his second fight at light heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to barely take the cleaner stanzas.

The audience's tolerance diminished amid constant clinching, with the challenger going down various instances during grappling.

Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi advances, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Fight

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester battle to win the European light-heavyweight belt.

The arena fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in last month.

It was the premier televised match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the stillness became a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting within the ring reflected the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch squarely on the chin in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the count of eight.

But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, heavy swelling appearing under his face as the duo traded powerful shots.

The challenger, 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.

The victor barely secured the result with scoring tallies of 114-114, close margin and 115-112, but the two athletes were determined and full of heart, exactly what their inspiration the legend represented.