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British light-heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming debut to life under recent management with a points victory over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a majority decision in a close ten-round fight at the boxing arena.

But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful clean blows in a contest where the techniques failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the fight.

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

"It wasn't my greatest display but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the audience.

The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.

Some ringside observers believed Parker, thirty-one, merited the decision but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second setback of his 28-bout career.

Buatsi Claims Win in Slow Affair

Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent years through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.

He opened tentatively, with both competitors ready to take risks in a tentative opening few rounds.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was making just his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to barely take the cleaner periods.

The audience's tolerance decreased amid regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.

Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Although, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.

Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Fight

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

The arena fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in last month.

It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound disappeared, the quiet gave way to a chant of "there's just one Hatton".

The fighting inside the ropes equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow flush on the chin in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.

But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the duo traded punishing blows.

The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action rarely dropped over 12 rounds.

Arthur barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of even score, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, everything their idol the legend represented.