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UK light heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive start to life under new promoters with a points victory over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a split decision in a close ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the techniques didn't complement each other, with excessive holding disrupting the contest.

The officials judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my greatest performance but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was faced negative reactions 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 twentieth professional win.

Various analysts felt the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the contender suffered the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.

Buatsi Secures Triumph in Slow Match

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

Earlier forecast as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.

He began cautiously, with both competitors willing to be aggressive in a tentative opening few rounds.

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was making just his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner periods.

The crowd's patience wore thin during constant clinching, with Parker going down several times during clinches.

Parker closed well, but many rounds were hard to judge. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor progresses, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires All-Manchester Battle

In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester battle to capture the continental belt.

The stadium fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute prior to the bout as a bell ceremony rang in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.

It was the premier televised match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound disappeared, the silence transitioned to a chant of "only one Hatton".

The competition during the bout equaled the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the chin in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his position on the eight count.

But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured quickly, noticeable damage appearing under his orbital area as the fighters traded powerful shots.

The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.

Arthur barely secured the result with official scores of 114-114, 115-113 and wider gap, but the two athletes were determined and brave, everything their inspiration Hatton represented.