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UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming debut to his career under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.

But Parker found success, landing some telling individual punches in a contest where the styles didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the contest.

Two judges scored it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.

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

The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.

Various analysts believed Parker, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second setback of his 28-match career.

Buatsi Earns Win in Slow Encounter

The fighter's advancement has slowed in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.

Once tipped as the future of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.

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

The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was making just his second bout at light-heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to barely take the better periods.

The audience's tolerance wore thin during frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during grappling.

The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still looks steep.

Hatton Tribute Motivates Manchester Derby Fight

In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a outstanding local rivalry contest to secure the European light heavyweight belt.

The arena fell silent for a profoundly moving tribute before the fight as ten bells tolled in memory of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in last month.

It was the first major televised match card in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound ended, the silence gave way to a roar of "only one Hatton".

The action within the ring equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow squarely on the face in the early round, rising shakily to his footing on the referee's count.

But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was damaged soon, significant bruising appearing under his orbital area as the pair traded hard punches.

Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over 12 rounds.

Arthur barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, 115-113 and 115-112, but each competitor were persistent and brave, everything their idol Hatton embodied.