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

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

But Parker had his moments, landing some telling clean blows in a match where the techniques didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing spoiling the action.

The officials had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my best display but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi said in the arena as he was faced boos from the spectators.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.

Various analysts believed the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.

The Champion Earns Triumph in Dull Match

His career development has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.

Previously predicted as the rising talent of British boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what seems like a last chance - under fresh management.

He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to be aggressive in a calculated early stages.

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to narrowly win the better rounds.

The spectators' acceptance decreased because of constant clinching, with the challenger going down several times during grappling.

The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor progresses, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Tribute Inspires Manchester Derby Battle

In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a terrific local rivalry contest to secure the continental championship.

The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute prior to the bout as 10 bells sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in last month.

It was the premier televised match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound faded, the stillness became a shout of "there's only one Hatton".

The action within the ring matched the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch squarely on the chin in the early round, standing uncertainly to his position on the eight count.

But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up quickly, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the pair traded hard punches.

The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over the full distance.

The victor edged the result with official scores of 114-114, close margin and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, everything their inspiration Hatton represented.