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UK light-heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming start to his career under new promoters with a decision win over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a majority decision in a close ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.

But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective single shots in a contest where the approaches failed to mesh, with frequent clinching spoiling the contest.

The officials judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my greatest performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor commented in the ring as he was faced boos from the crowd.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th career victory.

Various analysts thought the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the British boxer experienced the second defeat of his 28-match career.

The Champion Secures Triumph in Slow Encounter

His career development has stalled in the past few years through promotional disputes and considerable time of lack of fights.

Once tipped as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under recent support.

He began cautiously, with neither fighter prepared to take risks in a calculated initial rounds.

The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was participating in his second appearance at the higher weight class.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to edge the more effective rounds.

The audience's tolerance decreased amid constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during grappling.

Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi advances, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.

Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Contest

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry contest to win the European light heavyweight title.

The venue fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony rang in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in September.

It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting within the ring equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook squarely on the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the referee's count.

But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling appearing under his orbital area as the duo traded punishing blows.

The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over twelve rounds.

The victor narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, all the qualities their hero Hatton stood for.