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

The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a majority decision in a tight 10-round fight at the boxing arena.

But Parker found success, delivering effective clean blows in a fight where the styles failed to mesh, with excessive holding spoiling the action.

Two judges scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the third a 95-95.

"It wasn't my finest showing but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor commented in the ringside as he was greeted with disapproval from the spectators.

The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.

Several boxing experts felt the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer experienced the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.

Buatsi Claims Victory in Uneventful Affair

The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent times through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the future of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what appears to be a last chance - under fresh management.

He started carefully, with the two boxers ready to be aggressive in a cagey early stages.

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 participating in his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to edge the cleaner rounds.

The crowd's patience wore thin amid frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during clinches.

Parker closed well, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.

Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Contest

In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a terrific local rivalry contest to secure the continental championship.

The arena fell silent for a extremely emotional memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in recently.

It was the first major televised match card in the city since Hatton's passing. As the final chime faded, the quiet became a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The competition during the bout matched the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow squarely on the chin in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the referee's count.

But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling forming under his face as the pair exchanged punishing blows.

Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over the full distance.

The victor edged the verdict with judges scorecards of draw, close margin and 115-112, but each competitor were relentless and brave, all the qualities their inspiration the legend stood for.