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UK light heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming debut to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a majority decision in a close 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.

But Parker found success, landing some telling clean blows in a match where the styles didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the action.

The officials had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.

"It wasn't my best showing but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was greeted with negative reactions from the crowd.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th career victory.

Various analysts believed the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.

Buatsi Secures Victory in Slow Encounter

The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent times through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.

He started carefully, with the two boxers prepared to overcommit in a calculated early stages.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to edge the cleaner rounds.

The crowd's patience diminished during constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during grappling.

The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor moves on, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.

Hatton Memorial Motivates All-Manchester Contest

In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry contest to win the European light-heavyweight title.

The venue fell silent for a extremely emotional homage before the fight as 10 bells tolled in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in last month.

It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet transitioned to a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The action during the bout matched the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow squarely on the chin in the initial stage, rising shakily to his position on the eight count.

But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up quickly, significant bruising forming under his face as the pair exchanged punishing blows.

The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over twelve rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and 115-112, but the two athletes were determined and full of heart, everything their idol Hatton embodied.