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UK light-heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker found success, connecting with powerful clean blows in a match where the styles didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing spoiling the action.

The scoring judges judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.

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

The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.

Several boxing experts felt Parker, 31, merited the win but the British boxer endured the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.

The Champion Secures Victory in Dull Encounter

The fighter's advancement has plateaued in the past few years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the next star of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under recent support.

He opened tentatively, with both competitors ready to take risks in a tentative early stages.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was participating in his second appearance at the higher weight class.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective rounds.

The spectators' acceptance diminished amid constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during clinches.

Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still seems difficult.

Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Contest

In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a outstanding local rivalry contest to secure the European light heavyweight championship.

The arena became quiet for a deeply poignant homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in September.

It was the first major televised match card in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime faded, the stillness became a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The action within the ring matched the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch flush on the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his position on the referee's count.

But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured quickly, noticeable damage forming under his orbital area as the duo landed powerful shots.

Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.

Arthur edged the verdict with official scores of 114-114, close margin and 115-112, but each competitor were relentless and courageous, everything their inspiration Hatton embodied.