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British light heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a split decision in a close 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful single shots in a match where the techniques didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching disrupting the fight.

The officials had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my greatest showing but what defines champions? They win," the victor stated in the arena as he was faced disapproval from the crowd.

The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th pro success.

Several boxing experts believed the challenger, thirty-one, merited the victory but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second setback of his 28-match career.

Buatsi Claims Victory in Uneventful Match

Buatsi's progress has slowed in the past few years through contract problems and long spells of lack of fights.

Once tipped as the future of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.

He began cautiously, with neither fighter prepared to take risks in a cagey initial rounds.

Parker, whose sole prior loss 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 kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the better rounds.

The spectators' acceptance decreased because of frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.

Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor moves on, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Battle

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

The stadium grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage before the fight as 10 bells sounded in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.

It was the first major televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the silence transitioned to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting inside the ropes reflected the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow squarely on the jaw in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the eight count.

But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged early, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the fighters exchanged powerful shots.

Rea, 27, landed power punches but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over twelve rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the verdict with official scores of 114-114, narrow lead and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and brave, all the qualities their inspiration the legend stood for.