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UK light heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level likely gained him a split decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful single shots in a match where the styles failed to mesh, with excessive holding spoiling the fight.

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

"It wasn't my greatest performance but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi said in the ring as he was met by negative reactions from the crowd.

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

Various analysts felt the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the contender suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout career.

The Champion Earns Victory in Slow Encounter

The fighter's advancement has slowed in the past few years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.

He opened tentatively, with the two boxers prepared to take risks in a calculated early stages.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to edge the cleaner rounds.

The crowd's patience wore thin during regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during grappling.

Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates Local Rivalry Fight

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by split-decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester fight to capture the continental belt.

The stadium became quiet for a profoundly moving homage ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in recently.

It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime ended, the silence gave way to a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The action during the bout equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the count of eight.

But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, significant bruising forming under his orbital area as the duo exchanged punishing blows.

Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over twelve rounds.

The victor narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, narrow lead and clearer margin, but both fighters were persistent and courageous, everything their idol the legend represented.