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British light heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive beginning to life under recent management with a points victory over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective single shots in a contest where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the contest.

The scoring judges judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a even score.

"It wasn't my finest showing but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was faced negative reactions from the spectators.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th pro success.

Several boxing experts felt the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the contender suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.

Buatsi Earns Triumph in Uneventful Encounter

The fighter's advancement has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.

Once tipped as the future of UK boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.

He started carefully, with both competitors prepared to be aggressive in a cagey initial rounds.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the better periods.

The audience's tolerance wore thin amid regular grabbing, with Parker going down several times during close exchanges.

The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were difficult to score. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates Local Rivalry Battle

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific local rivalry battle to win the European light-heavyweight title.

The stadium became quiet for a deeply poignant homage ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in September.

It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the location since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound ended, the silence gave way to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow flush on the chin in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his feet on the referee's count.

But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the duo exchanged hard punches.

The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.

The victor narrowly won the decision with official scores of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but the two athletes were determined and brave, everything their idol the legend embodied.