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British light-heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive beginning to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.

But Parker had his moments, delivering effective clean blows in a fight where the techniques failed to mesh, with excessive holding marring the contest.

The officials scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a even score.

"It wasn't my best showing but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor stated in the arena as he was faced disapproval from the crowd.

The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.

Several boxing experts felt Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the contender endured the second loss of his 28-match career.

The Champion Claims Win in Dull Affair

His career development has stalled in recent times through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.

He opened tentatively, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a calculated early stages.

The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to edge the cleaner periods.

The crowd's patience decreased amid regular grabbing, with Parker going down multiple occasions during clinches.

The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor progresses, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still looks steep.

Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Contest

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry battle to win the European light-heavyweight championship.

The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute prior to the bout as ten bells sounded in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in September.

It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the final chime disappeared, the silence became a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting within the ring reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow squarely on the chin in the early round, rising shakily to his footing on the count of eight.

But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured quickly, heavy swelling developing under his face as the pair landed punishing blows.

Rea, 27, landed power punches but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over twelve rounds.

The victor edged the decision with official scores of draw, narrow lead and 115-112, but both fighters were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their inspiration the legend embodied.