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

The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a split decision in a competitive 10-round fight at the boxing arena.

But the challenger found success, delivering effective single shots in a contest where the approaches failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the contest.

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

"It wasn't my finest showing but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor stated in the ring as he was greeted with disapproval from the crowd.

The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.

Some ringside observers believed the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the win but the contender endured the second defeat of his 28-bout career.

Buatsi Earns Victory in Uneventful Match

His career development has stalled in the past few years through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.

Once tipped as the future of UK boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.

He began cautiously, with the two boxers prepared to be aggressive in a calculated initial rounds.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was competing in only his second appearance at light heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to narrowly win the better periods.

The crowd's patience decreased during constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during clinches.

Parker closed well, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.

The victor progresses, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still seems difficult.

Hatton Memorial Inspires Local Rivalry Battle

In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester fight to secure the continental belt.

The stadium became quiet for a extremely emotional memorial ahead of the contest as 10 bells tolled in memory of local hero Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in last month.

It was the premier televised boxing event in the city since Hatton's death. As the final chime disappeared, the quiet transitioned to a roar of "there's only one Hatton".

The fighting during the bout equaled the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch squarely on the face in the early round, standing uncertainly to his position on the referee's count.

But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured soon, heavy swelling developing under his orbital area as the fighters exchanged powerful shots.

Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over the full distance.

The victor barely secured the decision with official scores of 114-114, narrow lead and wider gap, but each competitor were determined and brave, all the qualities their hero Hatton represented.