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UK light-heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming start to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling single shots in a contest where the approaches failed to mesh, with excessive holding marring the contest.

The officials judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.

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

The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th pro success.

Several boxing experts felt the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the win but the contender suffered the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.

Buatsi Earns Victory in Uneventful Affair

Buatsi's progress has slowed in the past few years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.

He began cautiously, with both competitors willing to be aggressive in a tentative initial rounds.

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 making just his second bout at light-heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to narrowly win the better rounds.

The spectators' acceptance wore thin during regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.

Parker closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still looks steep.

Hatton Homage Motivates All-Manchester Fight

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to secure the continental title.

The venue fell silent for a deeply poignant homage ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in last month.

It was the first major televised boxing event in the city since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound disappeared, the quiet transitioned to a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The action within the ring reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch flush on the jaw in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.

But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged quickly, noticeable damage forming under his face as the fighters traded powerful shots.

The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over 12 rounds.

The victor narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of draw, 115-113 and clearer margin, but both fighters were determined and courageous, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton embodied.