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UK light-heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing beginning to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.

But Parker found success, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the techniques never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the contest.

The officials had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my best performance but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was greeted with negative reactions from the audience.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.

Some ringside observers felt the challenger, thirty-one, merited the win but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-match career.

Buatsi Secures Triumph in Dull Affair

His career development has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what seems like a last chance - under recent support.

He opened tentatively, with the two boxers willing to take risks in a tentative initial rounds.

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to narrowly win the better periods.

The spectators' acceptance wore thin during frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.

The underdog closed well, but many rounds were challenging to assess. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi advances, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still seems difficult.

Hatton Memorial Motivates All-Manchester Battle

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester battle to secure the continental belt.

The venue grew hushed for a profoundly moving homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.

It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound ended, the stillness became a shout of "only one Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes matched the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook squarely on the chin in the initial stage, rising shakily to his feet on the eight count.

But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was damaged quickly, noticeable damage forming under his orbital area as the pair landed punishing blows.

Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over the full distance.

Arthur barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, narrow lead and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and brave, all the qualities their hero the legend represented.