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UK light heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing start to his career under recent management with a points victory over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a close 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger found success, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing disrupting the fight.

The officials judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my best showing but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was met by boos from the spectators.

The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.

Various analysts felt Parker, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the British boxer suffered the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.

The Champion Claims Triumph in Uneventful Affair

His career development has plateaued in the past few years through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.

Once tipped as the next star of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a last chance - under new promotional backing.

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

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to edge the better periods.

The spectators' acceptance wore thin amid frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during clinches.

Parker closed well, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.

The victor advances, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still seems difficult.

Hatton Homage Fuels Local Rivalry Battle

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by split-decision in a terrific local rivalry contest to capture the European light-heavyweight championship.

The stadium became quiet for a extremely emotional homage ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.

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

The fighting inside the ropes reflected the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow squarely on the face in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his position on the referee's count.

But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the pair exchanged hard punches.

The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.

Arthur narrowly won the verdict with judges scorecards of even score, close margin and clearer margin, but both fighters were persistent and courageous, exactly what their inspiration the legend embodied.