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

The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling single shots in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.

The scoring judges had it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my best performance but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor said in the arena as he was met by disapproval from the spectators.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th career victory.

Several boxing experts thought the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the win but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-match career.

Buatsi Earns Win in Slow Affair

His career development has stalled in recent times through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.

Previously predicted as the future of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.

He started carefully, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.

The audience's tolerance wore thin during frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during clinches.

Parker closed well, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Although, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still looks steep.

Hatton Tribute Fuels Manchester Derby Contest

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent all-Manchester fight to secure the European light heavyweight championship.

The stadium fell silent for a profoundly moving homage ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.

It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the city since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound faded, the quiet became a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The action inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow squarely on the chin in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the count of eight.

But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up early, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the fighters exchanged powerful shots.

Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over the full distance.

Arthur narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, everything their inspiration Hatton embodied.