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UK light heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round bout at the boxing arena.

But Parker found success, landing some telling individual punches in a contest where the approaches failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the action.

Two judges had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a even score.

"It wasn't my greatest showing but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was greeted with boos from the spectators.

The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th pro success.

Several boxing experts thought Parker, 31, deserved the victory but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second loss of his 28-bout career.

The Champion Earns Victory in Uneventful Match

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

Earlier forecast as the rising talent of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - possibly in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.

He opened tentatively, with the two boxers willing to take risks in a calculated early stages.

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was participating in his second bout at light-heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.

The crowd's patience wore thin because of frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during grappling.

Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.

The victor advances, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still looks steep.

Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Contest

In the secondary fight, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry contest to win the European light-heavyweight championship.

The stadium became quiet for a profoundly moving tribute before the fight as 10 bells rang in memory of the city's native Hatton, who died 46 years old in recently.

It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell ended, the stillness became a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The competition during the bout reflected the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook squarely on the face in the second round, standing uncertainly to his position on the referee's count.

But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured soon, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the duo traded hard punches.

Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the pace hardly diminished over 12 rounds.

The victor edged the decision with official scores of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but each competitor were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their inspiration the legend represented.