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UK light heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive start to life under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a split decision in a close ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.

But Parker found success, delivering effective individual punches in a fight where the styles never quite clicked, with excessive holding spoiling the fight.

The scoring judges scored it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.

"It wasn't my finest display but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor said in the arena as he was met by negative reactions from the spectators.

The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.

Several boxing experts felt the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the contender endured the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.

The Champion Earns Triumph in Dull Match

His career development has stalled in the past few years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the next star of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.

He began cautiously, with the two boxers prepared to take risks in a cagey early stages.

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second appearance at the higher weight class.

By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective rounds.

The spectators' acceptance diminished during regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during clinches.

Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor moves on, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Battle

In the secondary fight, Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester contest to secure the European light-heavyweight title.

The stadium fell silent for a deeply poignant memorial ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony rang in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in September.

It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound ended, the silence became a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The competition within the ring matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch squarely on the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the eight count.

But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured soon, noticeable damage appearing under his orbital area as the duo exchanged punishing blows.

Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the pace hardly diminished over twelve rounds.

Arthur barely secured the verdict with scoring tallies of even score, 115-113 and clearer margin, but each competitor were persistent and full of heart, everything their hero Hatton represented.