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UK light-heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive beginning to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level likely gained him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round contest at the boxing arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective individual punches in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching marring the contest.

The scoring judges had it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a even score.

"It wasn't my greatest showing but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was faced boos from the crowd.

The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.

Some ringside observers thought the challenger, thirty-one, merited the victory but the British boxer endured the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.

The Champion Claims Triumph in Uneventful Match

Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the next star of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a last chance - under recent support.

He began cautiously, with both competitors willing to be aggressive in a cagey early stages.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was making just his second bout at light-heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to barely take the cleaner periods.

The spectators' acceptance diminished because of regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during close exchanges.

The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi advances, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Fight

In the secondary fight, Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester fight to win the continental title.

The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional memorial ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.

It was the premier televised boxing event in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime ended, the silence transitioned to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The competition within the ring equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook directly to the jaw in the second round, rising shakily to his feet on the count of eight.

But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured soon, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the pair landed punishing blows.

The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the verdict with official scores of 114-114, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, all the qualities their idol Hatton stood for.