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UK light heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming start to his career under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a split decision in a tight ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.

But Parker found success, delivering effective single shots in a match where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching marring the action.

The officials had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the third a even score.

"It wasn't my finest display but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor stated in the ring as he was faced boos from the crowd.

The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.

Various analysts thought Parker, 31, deserved the decision but the contender endured the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.

The Champion Secures Win in Slow Match

The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent times through contract problems and extended periods of lack of fights.

Earlier forecast as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - maybe in what appears to be a last chance - under new promotional backing.

He started carefully, with the two boxers prepared to be aggressive in a calculated initial rounds.

The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was competing in only his second fight at the higher weight class.

By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to barely take the cleaner stanzas.

The crowd's patience decreased because of constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during grappling.

Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.

The victor advances, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Fight

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a excellent all-Manchester fight to capture the European light heavyweight belt.

The stadium fell silent for a profoundly moving homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the silence transitioned to a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting within the ring equaled the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook squarely on the chin in the initial stage, rising shakily to his footing on the eight count.

But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured soon, heavy swelling forming under his eye as the pair traded hard punches.

Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the intensity hardly diminished over twelve rounds.

Arthur edged the result with judges scorecards of 114-114, narrow lead and 115-112, but each competitor were determined and courageous, everything their inspiration Hatton represented.