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UK light heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing start to his career under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round fight at the boxing arena.

But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful individual punches in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the fight.

The scoring judges judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my finest display but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor said in the ringside as he was greeted with negative reactions from the audience.

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

Several boxing experts believed the challenger, 31, deserved the victory but the contender suffered the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.

The Champion Claims Victory in Slow Match

The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent times through promotional disputes and long spells of lack of fights.

Previously predicted as the next star of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.

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

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second fight at light-heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to edge the better rounds.

The crowd's patience wore thin because of constant clinching, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during clinches.

The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still appears challenging.

Hatton Tribute Fuels Local Rivalry Contest

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a terrific all-Manchester fight to secure the continental title.

The stadium grew hushed for a profoundly moving memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony rang in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in last month.

It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the silence transitioned to a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook flush on the face in the second round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the referee's count.

But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up early, significant bruising forming under his eye as the duo exchanged powerful shots.

The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over 12 rounds.

Arthur edged the verdict with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but each competitor were persistent and brave, all the qualities their hero the legend embodied.