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British light-heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing beginning to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round bout at the boxing arena.

But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the styles never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the fight.

The officials judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95.

"It wasn't my finest showing but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi said in the arena as he was met by disapproval from the crowd.

The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th career victory.

Some ringside observers thought the challenger, thirty-one, merited the win but the British boxer experienced the second setback of his 28-fight career.

The Champion Claims Win in Slow Affair

The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent times through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under new promotional backing.

He opened tentatively, with neither fighter willing to be aggressive in a calculated initial rounds.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was participating in his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to edge the better rounds.

The spectators' acceptance decreased amid constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during grappling.

The underdog closed well, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi advances, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates Local Rivalry Contest

In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry contest to secure the continental title.

The venue fell silent for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells tolled in honor of the city's native Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.

It was the first major televised match card in the city since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the quiet transitioned to a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook directly to the face in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.

But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage developing under his face as the pair traded punishing blows.

The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the action rarely dropped over the full distance.

The victor barely secured the verdict with official scores of 114-114, narrow lead and 115-112, but both fighters were persistent and brave, all the qualities their inspiration the legend stood for.