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UK light heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive start to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker found success, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing disrupting the fight.

Two judges scored it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my greatest display but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi said in the ring as he was greeted with boos from the crowd.

The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.

Various analysts thought Parker, thirty-one, merited the victory but the contender experienced the second loss of his 28-bout career.

Buatsi Secures Triumph in Slow Encounter

The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.

Once tipped as the next star of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.

He started carefully, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to edge the better stanzas.

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

Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.

The victor advances, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still looks steep.

Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Fight

In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.

The arena fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial ahead of the contest as ten bells tolled in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in recently.

It was the premier televised fight night in the location since Hatton's death. As the final chime ended, the quiet became a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The action during the bout reflected the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch directly to the jaw in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.

But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured soon, heavy swelling appearing under his face as the duo exchanged powerful shots.

Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the pace hardly diminished over twelve rounds.

Arthur edged the verdict with official scores of draw, narrow lead and clearer margin, but each competitor were determined and full of heart, exactly what their hero the legend embodied.