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UK light heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output seemingly secured him a split decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger found success, delivering effective individual punches in a match where the techniques failed to mesh, with excessive holding marring the fight.

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

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

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.

Several boxing experts felt the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.

The Champion Secures Victory in Slow Match

The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.

Once tipped as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.

He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to overcommit in a tentative early stages.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was making just his second appearance at light-heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the more effective rounds.

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

The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still looks steep.

Hatton Homage Fuels All-Manchester Battle

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester contest to win the European light heavyweight belt.

The venue grew hushed for a deeply poignant memorial before the fight as ten bells sounded in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.

It was the first major televised fight night in the location since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the stillness became a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The action inside the ropes equaled the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook flush on the chin in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.

But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged early, significant bruising developing under his face as the pair traded punishing blows.

Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over 12 rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, narrow lead and 115-112, but the two athletes were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their idol the legend embodied.