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British light-heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming beginning to his career under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling clean blows in a fight where the styles didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching spoiling the contest.

Two judges had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.

"It wasn't my greatest showing but what do champions do? They win," the victor stated in the arena as he was faced disapproval from the crowd.

The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.

Some ringside observers felt Parker, 31, deserved the decision but the contender endured the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.

The Champion Claims Win in Slow Encounter

The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent times through contract problems and long spells of lack of fights.

Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under recent support.

He started carefully, with neither fighter willing to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was making just his second fight at light heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to edge the cleaner periods.

The audience's tolerance decreased during regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.

Parker closed well, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Fight

In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester battle to capture the European light-heavyweight title.

The venue became quiet for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as 10 bells sounded in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in last month.

It was the premier televised boxing event in the city since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound disappeared, the stillness gave way to a chant of "there's just one Hatton".

The competition during the bout matched the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook flush on the chin in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.

But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling developing under his face as the pair traded powerful shots.

The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over 12 rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the decision with official scores of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but the two athletes were persistent and brave, everything their idol Hatton embodied.