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UK light heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing start to life under new promoters with a decision win over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round bout at the boxing arena.

But Parker found success, delivering effective single shots in a fight where the approaches failed to mesh, with frequent clinching marring the contest.

The officials had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my best showing but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was greeted with disapproval from the crowd.

The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th pro success.

Several boxing experts thought the challenger, 31, deserved the decision but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.

Buatsi Claims Victory in Uneventful Encounter

The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent years through contract problems and long spells of lack of fights.

Previously predicted as the rising talent of British boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under recent support.

He started carefully, with both competitors prepared to be aggressive in a tentative initial rounds.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second bout at light-heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to narrowly win the cleaner rounds.

The audience's tolerance decreased during constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during clinches.

Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Fight

In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent all-Manchester fight to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.

The arena became quiet for a profoundly moving tribute prior to the bout as 10 bells tolled in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.

It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound ended, the quiet became a roar of "there's just one Hatton".

The action inside the ropes matched the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook squarely on the jaw in the early round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the count of eight.

But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged early, significant bruising forming under his orbital area as the pair traded hard punches.

The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over 12 rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the verdict with official scores of draw, narrow lead and 115-112, but both fighters were persistent and full of heart, all the qualities their idol Hatton represented.