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UK light-heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive beginning to life under new promoters with a points victory over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round bout at the boxing arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the styles never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the contest.

The scoring judges judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.

"It wasn't my best display but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was faced negative reactions from the spectators.

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

Several boxing experts believed Parker, thirty-one, deserved the win but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.

Buatsi Claims Victory in Slow Affair

Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent times through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.

Once tipped as the future of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.

He started carefully, with both competitors ready to overcommit in a calculated early stages.

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was competing in only his second appearance at light heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to edge the better periods.

The audience's tolerance wore thin because of regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.

The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.

The victor progresses, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.

Hatton Tribute Motivates Local Rivalry Contest

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester fight to win the continental belt.

The arena fell silent for a profoundly moving tribute ahead of the contest as 10 bells rang in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who died aged 46 in September.

It was the first major televised boxing event in the city since Hatton's passing. As the final chime ended, the silence gave way to a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a significant blow squarely on the jaw in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the referee's count.

But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured early, significant bruising forming under his orbital area as the duo landed hard punches.

Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over twelve rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the result with official scores of draw, close margin and clearer margin, but the two athletes were persistent and brave, exactly what their inspiration Hatton stood for.