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British light-heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming start to his career under new promoters with a decision win over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round fight at the boxing arena.

But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the approaches never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the fight.

Two judges judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my finest performance but what do champions do? They win," the victor stated in the ringside as he was faced disapproval from the spectators.

The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.

Some ringside observers thought Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer suffered the second loss of his 28-bout career.

Buatsi Secures Triumph in Uneventful Affair

The fighter's advancement has stalled in the past few years through management issues and long spells of lack of fights.

Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.

He began cautiously, with the two boxers willing to take risks in a calculated initial rounds.

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was participating in his second appearance at light-heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to edge the better rounds.

The crowd's patience wore thin during constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during close exchanges.

Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi advances, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates Local Rivalry Fight

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a terrific local rivalry contest to capture the continental title.

The stadium became quiet for a profoundly moving homage ahead of the contest as 10 bells sounded in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised match card in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound disappeared, the quiet transitioned to a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The action within the ring matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook flush on the chin in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the referee's count.

But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in rival City blue - was damaged early, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the fighters landed hard punches.

The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the intensity hardly diminished over the full distance.

Arthur narrowly won the decision with official scores of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but each competitor were determined and courageous, everything their inspiration the legend stood for.