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UK light-heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive start to his career under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a split decision in a competitive 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling individual punches in a contest where the styles failed to mesh, with excessive holding disrupting the action.

The scoring judges scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my finest display but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor commented in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the crowd.

The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.

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

The Champion Claims Triumph in Dull Affair

The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent times through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the future of UK boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.

He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to be aggressive in a calculated early stages.

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was participating in his second appearance at light-heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the better periods.

The spectators' acceptance diminished because of regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during close exchanges.

Parker closed well, but many rounds were hard to judge. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor progresses, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates All-Manchester Contest

In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a terrific local rivalry battle to capture the European light heavyweight championship.

The venue became quiet for a profoundly moving homage prior to the bout as 10 bells rang in memory of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in recently.

It was the first major televised fight night in the city since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet transitioned to a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The action inside the ropes equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch flush on the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.

But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged early, noticeable damage appearing under his orbital area as the duo exchanged hard punches.

Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the intensity seldom decreased over 12 rounds.

Arthur barely secured the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, close margin and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and full of heart, exactly what their hero Hatton represented.