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British light heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a split decision in a competitive ten-round bout at the boxing arena.

But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective clean blows in a fight where the techniques failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the fight.

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

"It wasn't my greatest display but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor commented in the ringside as he was greeted with negative reactions from the crowd.

The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.

Some ringside observers thought the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the win but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout career.

Buatsi Claims Victory in Dull Encounter

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

Once tipped as the next star of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.

He began cautiously, with the two boxers prepared to overcommit in a tentative early stages.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was making just his second fight at light-heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the better stanzas.

The spectators' acceptance wore thin because of constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during close exchanges.

The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.

Hatton Tribute Inspires Local Rivalry Fight

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a excellent all-Manchester fight to win the European light heavyweight title.

The arena fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial prior to the bout as 10 bells rang in memory of local hero Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in last month.

It was the premier televised boxing event in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell faded, the stillness gave way to a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The action within the ring matched the feeling. Arthur was floored by a left hook flush on the face in the initial stage, rising shakily to his footing on the count of eight.

But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling forming under his eye as the duo landed hard punches.

Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the pace hardly diminished over 12 rounds.

The victor narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of draw, narrow lead and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and full of heart, everything their inspiration Hatton embodied.