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UK light heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive start to life under new promoters 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 boxing arena.

But Parker found success, delivering effective clean blows in a fight where the styles never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the action.

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

"It wasn't my best display but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was faced disapproval from the audience.

The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th pro success.

Several boxing experts thought Parker, thirty-one, deserved the win but the contender suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.

Buatsi Earns Victory in Slow Affair

Buatsi's progress has plateaued in the past few years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the future of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under recent support.

He opened tentatively, with both competitors ready to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was making just his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a solid defense to narrowly win the cleaner rounds.

The audience's tolerance diminished amid regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during grappling.

Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor advances, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Battle

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to win the European light heavyweight championship.

The stadium fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial ahead of the contest as ten bells tolled in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in September.

It was the first major televised match card in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell ended, the silence gave way to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".

The competition during the bout reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook squarely on the chin in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.

But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up quickly, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the pair landed powerful shots.

Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.

Arthur edged the result with judges scorecards of draw, 115-113 and 115-112, but the two athletes were determined and full of heart, everything their hero the legend stood for.