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UK light heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming debut to his career under recent management with a points victory over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker had his moments, delivering effective individual punches in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the action.

The officials judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.

"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was met by boos from the audience.

The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.

Some ringside observers believed Parker, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-fight career.

The Champion Secures Victory in Uneventful Match

The fighter's advancement has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.

Once tipped as the next star of British boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.

He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a calculated opening few rounds.

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was participating in his second appearance at light heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to barely take the more effective periods.

The audience's tolerance diminished because of constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.

Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.

The victor moves on, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates All-Manchester Fight

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester battle to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.

The stadium grew hushed for a deeply poignant memorial ahead of the contest as 10 bells sounded in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised match card in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime disappeared, the stillness gave way to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The action inside the ropes matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch squarely on the face in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.

But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was damaged early, noticeable damage forming under his face as the duo traded powerful shots.

The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over twelve rounds.

The victor narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of draw, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were determined and courageous, exactly what their hero the legend embodied.