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UK light-heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing debut to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with excessive holding marring the action.

Two judges scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was faced negative reactions from the crowd.

The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.

Various analysts thought Parker, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.

Buatsi Earns Win in Slow Affair

The fighter's advancement has stalled in the past few years through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the next star of British boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.

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

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second bout at light-heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the cleaner stanzas.

The spectators' acceptance wore thin because of regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during clinches.

Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi advances, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.

Ricky Hatton Homage Fuels Local Rivalry Contest

In the supporting bout, Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a terrific local rivalry contest to secure the European light-heavyweight title.

The arena became quiet for a profoundly moving tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells tolled in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in last month.

It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound ended, the quiet gave way to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The competition within the ring equaled the emotion. Arthur was floored by a left hook flush on the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the referee's count.

But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up early, noticeable damage appearing under his eye as the pair traded hard punches.

The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over twelve rounds.

The victor edged the verdict with official scores of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but each competitor were relentless and brave, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton embodied.