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UK light heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming beginning to life under new promoters with a decision win over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a split decision in a close 10-round bout at the boxing arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective individual punches in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the contest.

The officials scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the third a even score.

"It wasn't my best showing but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi said in the arena as he was met by boos from the spectators.

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

Several boxing experts thought Parker, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.

The Champion Earns Win in Uneventful Match

The fighter's advancement has stalled in the past few years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.

Once tipped as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.

He started carefully, with neither fighter ready to be aggressive in a tentative opening few rounds.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second appearance at light heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to edge the cleaner stanzas.

The spectators' acceptance decreased because of regular grabbing, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during close exchanges.

Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still seems difficult.

Hatton Homage Motivates Local Rivalry Contest

In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester fight to capture the European light heavyweight championship.

The venue grew hushed for a deeply poignant tribute ahead of the contest as 10 bells rang in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in recently.

It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the location since Hatton's death. As the final chime disappeared, the stillness gave way to a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The competition within the ring reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook flush on the face in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his feet on the count of eight.

But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage appearing under his orbital area as the duo exchanged hard punches.

The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.

The victor narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of even score, close margin and 115-112, but the two athletes were determined and courageous, exactly what their idol the legend stood for.