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UK light-heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing debut to life under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the boxing arena.

But the challenger had his moments, connecting with powerful individual punches in a fight where the techniques didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing disrupting the fight.

The scoring judges scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my finest display but what do champions do? They win," the victor stated in the ringside as he was met by disapproval from the spectators.

The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.

Some ringside observers believed Parker, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer experienced the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.

The Champion Claims Triumph in Uneventful Encounter

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

Once tipped as the future of UK boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.

He started carefully, with both competitors ready to take risks in a tentative early stages.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to edge the more effective periods.

The spectators' acceptance wore thin because of frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during grappling.

The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.

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

Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Fight

In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a outstanding all-Manchester contest to win the European light-heavyweight belt.

The arena became quiet for a profoundly moving memorial before the fight as 10 bells sounded in memory of local hero Hatton, who died aged 46 in last month.

It was the first major televised fight night in the location since Hatton's death. As the last bell faded, the quiet gave way to a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The action inside the ropes matched the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch directly to the face in the early round, standing uncertainly to his position on the referee's count.

But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured early, significant bruising appearing under his orbital area as the duo traded hard punches.

The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.

Arthur edged the result with scoring tallies of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and brave, everything their idol Hatton stood for.