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UK light-heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming start to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a split decision in a close ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger found success, landing some telling individual punches in a match where the approaches failed to mesh, with excessive holding disrupting the contest.

The scoring judges had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.

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

The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.

Various analysts thought the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the win but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.

Buatsi Secures Victory in Dull Encounter

The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent times through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.

Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.

He started carefully, with both competitors willing to be aggressive in a cagey opening few rounds.

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.

The audience's tolerance diminished during regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during close exchanges.

The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires All-Manchester Fight

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by split-decision in a excellent local rivalry fight to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.

The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant homage ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised boxing event in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime disappeared, the silence transitioned to a roar of "only one Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow flush on the face in the second round, rising shakily to his position on the count of eight.

But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured soon, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the pair exchanged punishing blows.

The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the action rarely dropped over twelve rounds.

The victor edged the verdict with official scores of 114-114, close margin and clearer margin, but each competitor were determined and courageous, exactly what their idol the legend embodied.