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

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling single shots in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching marring the fight.

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

"It wasn't my greatest showing but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor commented in the ringside as he was met by disapproval from the spectators.

The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.

Various analysts believed the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the contender endured the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.

The Champion Claims Win in Dull Encounter

Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the next star of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.

He started carefully, with both competitors ready to overcommit in a calculated initial rounds.

The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was making just his second fight at light heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective periods.

The audience's tolerance wore thin during constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during grappling.

The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor progresses, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Battle

In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester battle to secure the continental championship.

The venue grew hushed for a extremely emotional homage prior to the bout as ten bells tolled in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting inside the ropes reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook flush on the chin in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the eight count.

But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising forming under his orbital area as the fighters landed punishing blows.

The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over twelve rounds.

Arthur edged the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and full of heart, everything their hero the legend represented.