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

The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a majority decision in a close 10-round contest at the boxing arena.

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

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

"It wasn't my best display but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was met by boos from the crowd.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.

Some ringside observers thought Parker, 31, deserved the win but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second loss of his 28-fight career.

Buatsi Secures Win in Slow Match

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

Once tipped as the rising talent of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.

He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to take risks in a tentative initial rounds.

The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was making just his second fight at light-heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to edge the better stanzas.

The audience's tolerance decreased because of frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during clinches.

Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi advances, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still looks steep.

Hatton Tribute Motivates Manchester Derby Battle

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester fight to secure the European light-heavyweight belt.

The arena became quiet for a deeply poignant homage before the fight as a bell ceremony sounded in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in last month.

It was the premier televised boxing event in the city since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "only one Hatton".

The fighting inside the ropes equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch squarely on the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.

But the Manchester United-red shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, heavy swelling developing under his face as the pair landed powerful shots.

Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over twelve rounds.

Arthur edged the verdict with official scores of draw, close margin and wider gap, but the two athletes were determined and courageous, all the qualities their idol the legend stood for.