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British light-heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing beginning to his career under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a majority decision in a tight 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger found success, landing some telling single shots in a fight where the styles failed to mesh, with frequent clinching spoiling the fight.

The scoring judges judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my finest showing but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was greeted with disapproval from the audience.

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

Various analysts felt Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.

The Champion Earns Win in Uneventful Encounter

The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.

Once tipped as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under recent support.

He started carefully, with neither fighter willing to be aggressive in a calculated initial rounds.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was participating in his second appearance at light-heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the cleaner periods.

The spectators' acceptance diminished during constant clinching, with Parker going down various instances during close exchanges.

Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.

The victor progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates Local Rivalry Battle

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a excellent all-Manchester contest to capture the European light heavyweight belt.

The venue became quiet for a extremely emotional memorial before the fight as ten bells tolled in memory of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in last month.

It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell faded, the silence transitioned to a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The action inside the ropes reflected the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook flush on the chin in the second round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the referee's count.

But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured quickly, heavy swelling forming under his eye as the fighters traded punishing blows.

The challenger, 27, landed power punches but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.

Arthur edged the result with scoring tallies of draw, narrow lead and 115-112, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, everything their idol Hatton represented.