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British light-heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round contest at the boxing arena.

But the challenger found success, landing some telling single shots in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the fight.

The scoring judges had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a even score.

"It wasn't my best display but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was met by negative reactions from the spectators.

The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.

Some ringside observers thought Parker, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-fight career.

The Champion Secures Triumph in Slow Encounter

Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.

Once tipped as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what seems like a last chance - under recent support.

He began cautiously, with neither fighter prepared to take risks in a cagey initial rounds.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was making just his second appearance at light heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to narrowly win the better rounds.

The audience's tolerance diminished because of frequent holding, with Parker going down multiple occasions during grappling.

Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Although, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates All-Manchester Fight

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester contest to win the European light heavyweight championship.

The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony rang in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.

It was the first major televised match card in the city since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the silence gave way to a roar of "there's only one Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook flush on the chin in the second round, standing uncertainly to his position on the referee's count.

But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling forming under his face as the duo traded powerful shots.

The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over twelve rounds.

The victor narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of even score, narrow lead and clearer margin, but each competitor were relentless and brave, everything their idol Hatton embodied.