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UK light heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing start to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a split decision in a tight ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger found success, landing some telling clean blows in a fight where the techniques failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the action.

The scoring judges judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a even score.

"It wasn't my best showing but how do champions respond? They win," the victor commented in the ring as he was met by negative reactions from the spectators.

The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.

Various analysts thought Parker, thirty-one, merited the decision but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second loss of his 28-fight career.

Buatsi Earns Victory in Dull Match

His career development has plateaued in recent times through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.

Once tipped as the rising talent of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - maybe in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.

He started carefully, with both competitors ready to be aggressive in a tentative early stages.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was making just his second appearance at light-heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to barely take the better periods.

The audience's tolerance wore thin amid constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during clinches.

The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires All-Manchester Contest

In the secondary fight, Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry battle to capture the European light-heavyweight title.

The venue fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute prior to the bout as 10 bells sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in recently.

It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound faded, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".

The action during the bout reflected the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook flush on the chin in the early round, standing uncertainly to his position on the eight count.

But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up early, noticeable damage appearing under his face as the fighters landed powerful shots.

The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the action rarely dropped over the full distance.

Arthur barely secured the result with scoring tallies of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but both fighters were persistent and courageous, exactly what their hero the legend represented.