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British light heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to his career under recent management with a points victory over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a close 10-round fight at the boxing arena.

But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective individual punches in a fight where the styles didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing spoiling the action.

Two judges scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95.

"It wasn't my best showing but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor said in the ring as he was met by boos from the crowd.

The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th career victory.

Various analysts believed the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second loss of his 28-match career.

Buatsi Secures Win in Uneventful Match

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

Once tipped as the rising talent of British boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.

He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to take risks in a calculated opening few rounds.

The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second appearance at light heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a solid defense to barely take the cleaner rounds.

The audience's tolerance wore thin during constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during close exchanges.

The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor advances, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still appears challenging.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates All-Manchester Fight

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific all-Manchester battle to capture the European light heavyweight belt.

The stadium fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial ahead of the contest as 10 bells sounded in memory of local hero Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in last month.

It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the stillness became a chant of "there's only one Hatton".

The action inside the ropes equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook directly to the chin in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the referee's count.

But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged quickly, noticeable damage appearing under his eye as the pair landed powerful shots.

Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.

Arthur narrowly won the result with official scores of draw, 115-113 and clearer margin, but each competitor were determined and full of heart, everything their idol the legend represented.