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British light heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round bout at the boxing arena.

But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful individual punches in a fight where the styles failed to mesh, with frequent clinching disrupting the contest.

The officials scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my best display but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi said in the arena as he was greeted with negative reactions from the crowd.

The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.

Various analysts thought Parker, 31, merited the victory but the contender endured the second defeat of his 28-bout career.

Buatsi Secures Triumph in Uneventful Affair

Buatsi's progress has stalled in the past few years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the next star of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what feels like a last chance - under recent support.

He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to be aggressive in a tentative initial rounds.

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was making just his second fight at the higher weight class.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner rounds.

The spectators' acceptance diminished amid frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during grappling.

The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi advances, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates All-Manchester Battle

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to win the European light heavyweight belt.

The arena grew hushed for a deeply poignant tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells sounded in honor of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in last month.

It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the city since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness became a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The competition within the ring matched the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch directly to the jaw in the early round, standing uncertainly to his position on the eight count.

But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up early, noticeable damage developing under his eye as the duo traded punishing blows.

Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.

Arthur edged the result with scoring tallies of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and courageous, all the qualities their hero Hatton represented.