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UK light heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a majority decision in a tight ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger had his moments, connecting with powerful single shots in a match where the approaches failed to mesh, with excessive holding spoiling the action.

The officials scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.

"It wasn't my greatest display but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor commented in the ring as he was greeted with negative reactions from the crowd.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.

Some ringside observers thought the challenger, 31, merited the victory but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.

Buatsi Earns Win in Uneventful Affair

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

Earlier forecast as the next star of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.

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

The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a solid defense to edge the more effective rounds.

The spectators' acceptance diminished amid constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during close exchanges.

The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still seems difficult.

Hatton Tribute Fuels Manchester Derby Fight

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester battle to capture the European light heavyweight belt.

The arena became quiet for a deeply poignant tribute before the fight as 10 bells sounded in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who died at age 46 in last month.

It was the premier televised fight night in the city since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the silence transitioned to a shout of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The competition within the ring reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook flush on the face in the second round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the count of eight.

But the red-colored attire of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured soon, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the pair exchanged hard punches.

The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over the full distance.

The victor edged the decision with scoring tallies of draw, close margin and wider gap, but both fighters were persistent and courageous, all the qualities their hero the legend stood for.