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UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to his career under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a close ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful single shots in a match where the styles didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the action.

Two judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.

"It wasn't my finest display but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor said in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the audience.

The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.

Various analysts believed Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the contender suffered the second defeat of his 28-match career.

The Champion Secures Victory in Uneventful Encounter

His career development has plateaued in recent times through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.

Once tipped as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.

He started carefully, with the two boxers prepared to overcommit in a calculated early stages.

The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was participating in his second fight at light-heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to edge the better periods.

The spectators' acceptance diminished during frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during clinches.

Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still appears challenging.

Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Battle

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a excellent all-Manchester battle to win the continental title.

The arena became quiet for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony rang in honor of local hero Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised match card in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The competition during the bout equaled the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the jaw in the initial stage, rising shakily to his position on the eight count.

But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged early, heavy swelling appearing under his eye as the pair exchanged hard punches.

Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over twelve rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the decision with scoring tallies of draw, narrow lead and 115-112, but each competitor were persistent and full of heart, all the qualities their hero the legend represented.