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

The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a split decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the boxing arena.

But Parker had his moments, delivering effective single shots in a fight where the approaches failed to mesh, with frequent clinching marring the contest.

Two judges scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my finest showing but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor said in the ring as he was met by boos from the crowd.

The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th pro success.

Several boxing experts felt the challenger, thirty-one, merited the win but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.

The Champion Earns Win in Slow Affair

Buatsi's progress has slowed in the past few years through management issues and long spells of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.

He began cautiously, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a cagey early stages.

The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second fight at light-heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to narrowly win the cleaner rounds.

The crowd's patience diminished amid frequent holding, with Parker going down multiple occasions during clinches.

Parker closed well, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor moves on, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates Manchester Derby Battle

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a terrific all-Manchester battle to secure the European light-heavyweight belt.

The arena became quiet for a profoundly moving memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony rang in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in September.

It was the first major televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound ended, the stillness became a shout of "only one Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook squarely on the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his position on the referee's count.

But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged early, noticeable damage forming under his face as the duo exchanged hard punches.

Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over 12 rounds.

The victor narrowly won the result with official scores of draw, 115-113 and clearer margin, but each competitor were persistent and full of heart, everything their inspiration the legend represented.