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

The Olympic medal winner's punch output seemingly secured him a majority decision in a close ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger had his moments, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the approaches failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the action.

Two judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my best performance but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor said in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the audience.

The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.

Several boxing experts believed Parker, 31, deserved the win but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.

The Champion Secures Victory in Slow Affair

His career development has plateaued in recent times through management issues and considerable time of lack of fights.

Earlier forecast as the next star of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.

He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to be aggressive in a cagey initial rounds.

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was making just his second appearance at light heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a solid defense to barely take the more effective rounds.

The audience's tolerance diminished because of regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during close exchanges.

Parker closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just one round.

The victor progresses, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still looks steep.

Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Fight

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

The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as 10 bells sounded in honor of local hero Ricky 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 concluding sound faded, the stillness gave way to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".

The fighting during the bout matched the feeling. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch squarely on the chin in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his feet on the count of eight.

But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising appearing under his orbital area as the duo exchanged punishing blows.

Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.

The victor narrowly won the result with scoring tallies of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and brave, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton embodied.