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UK light-heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a split decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the techniques never quite clicked, with excessive holding marring the contest.

Two judges scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.

"It wasn't my best showing but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was greeted with negative reactions from the crowd.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.

Several boxing experts thought Parker, 31, deserved the win but the British boxer experienced the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.

Buatsi Secures Victory in Dull Match

The fighter's advancement has stalled in the past few years through management issues and long spells of lack of fights.

Earlier forecast as the future of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.

He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was participating in his second bout at light-heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.

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

The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still seems difficult.

Hatton Homage Fuels Manchester Derby Fight

In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester contest to capture the European light heavyweight title.

The venue became quiet for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells tolled in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in last month.

It was the premier televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound disappeared, the stillness became a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting within the ring equaled the feeling. Arthur was floored by a significant blow squarely on the face in the second round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.

But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, noticeable damage forming under his face as the duo traded punishing blows.

Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the intensity seldom decreased over the full distance.

Arthur barely secured the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, close margin and clearer margin, but the two athletes were relentless and courageous, everything their inspiration the legend represented.