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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 medal winner's work rate likely gained him a majority decision in a close ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful single shots in a match where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the contest.

The scoring judges judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.

"It wasn't my best display but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi said in the ring as he was greeted with boos from the audience.

The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.

Some ringside observers thought Parker, 31, merited the decision but the contender endured the second loss of his 28-fight career.

The Champion Claims Triumph in Uneventful Match

Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent times through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.

He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to be aggressive in a cagey initial rounds.

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second appearance at light heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to barely take the better rounds.

The audience's tolerance wore thin during regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.

Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still appears challenging.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Contest

In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry fight to win the European light-heavyweight belt.

The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional memorial prior to the bout as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in recently.

It was the first major televised fight night in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime faded, the silence gave way to a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The action during the bout reflected the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow squarely on the chin in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the eight count.

But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up early, significant bruising forming under his face as the fighters exchanged punishing blows.

Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.

Arthur narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but each competitor were relentless and courageous, all the qualities their hero Hatton represented.