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

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round fight at the boxing arena.

But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the styles didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching marring the contest.

Two judges scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.

"It wasn't my greatest display but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was greeted with negative reactions from the audience.

The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.

Various analysts felt Parker, 31, deserved the win but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.

Buatsi Secures Triumph in Slow Match

Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - maybe in what seems like a last chance - under recent support.

He began cautiously, with both competitors ready to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner rounds.

The audience's tolerance wore thin because of constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during clinches.

Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

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

Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Battle

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester fight to capture the continental title.

The venue grew hushed for a extremely emotional homage before the fight as 10 bells sounded in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.

It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the silence became a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting within the ring matched the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook flush on the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the referee's count.

But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was damaged soon, heavy swelling developing under his orbital area as the pair exchanged hard punches.

Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over twelve rounds.

The victor narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, narrow lead and clearer margin, but each competitor were persistent and courageous, exactly what their idol Hatton stood for.