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British light heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming start to life under recent management with a points victory over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.

But Parker found success, landing some telling single shots in a match where the techniques failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the contest.

Two judges had it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my greatest performance but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was greeted with negative reactions from the crowd.

The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.

Some ringside observers thought Parker, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the contender experienced the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.

Buatsi Earns Victory in Uneventful Encounter

His career development has slowed in the past few years through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.

Once tipped as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.

He began cautiously, with both competitors ready to overcommit in a calculated early stages.

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second fight at the higher weight class.

By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a solid defense to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.

The spectators' acceptance wore thin during frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during grappling.

Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.

The victor advances, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still looks steep.

Hatton Tribute Inspires Local Rivalry Battle

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

The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in September.

It was the premier televised match card in the city since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the quiet became a shout of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting within the ring reflected the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook squarely on the face in the second round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the eight count.

But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged soon, noticeable damage appearing under his face as the duo exchanged powerful shots.

The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over twelve rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but each competitor were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their idol Hatton represented.