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UK light-heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level 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 individual punches in a fight where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the fight.

The scoring judges judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.

"It wasn't my best display but what do champions do? They win," the victor stated in the ring as he was greeted with disapproval from the audience.

The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th pro success.

Various analysts felt Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer suffered the second loss of his 28-fight career.

The Champion Secures Triumph in Uneventful Match

The fighter's advancement has plateaued in the past few years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - maybe in what appears to be a last chance - under fresh management.

He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to be aggressive in a calculated opening few rounds.

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was making just his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to edge the more effective rounds.

The crowd's patience wore thin amid regular grabbing, with Parker going down multiple occasions during clinches.

The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.

The victor moves on, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Battle

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to secure the continental title.

The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant homage ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony tolled in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.

It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the final chime ended, the stillness became a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The competition within the ring matched the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook squarely on the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the eight count.

But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up early, noticeable damage developing under his orbital area as the pair landed hard punches.

The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over the full distance.

Arthur edged the verdict with scoring tallies of even score, close margin and 115-112, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their hero Hatton stood for.