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UK light heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing start to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a majority decision in a tight 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.

But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling individual punches in a contest where the approaches failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the action.

The scoring judges judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.

"It wasn't my best showing but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was greeted with disapproval from the spectators.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.

Some ringside observers thought the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the contender suffered the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.

Buatsi Earns Triumph in Dull Encounter

His career development has plateaued in recent years through promotional disputes and long spells of lack of fights.

Once tipped as the future of UK boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what appears to be a last chance - under new promotional backing.

He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to be aggressive in a calculated opening few rounds.

The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was making just his second fight at light heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to edge the better stanzas.

The spectators' acceptance diminished during constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during grappling.

Parker closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Tribute Inspires All-Manchester Contest

In the co-main event, Arthur beat Rea by split-decision in a terrific local rivalry contest to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.

The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional memorial ahead of the contest as 10 bells rang in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who died at age 46 in last month.

It was the first major televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The competition during the bout equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook squarely on the face in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the referee's count.

But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured quickly, significant bruising developing under his eye as the fighters landed powerful shots.

The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.

The victor edged the decision with scoring tallies of draw, close margin and 115-112, but each competitor were persistent and full of heart, all the qualities their hero the legend embodied.