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British light-heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive beginning to life under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a majority decision in a tight 10-round bout at the boxing arena.

But Parker had his moments, landing some telling single shots in a match where the techniques didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing marring the fight.

The scoring judges scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was met by boos from the spectators.

The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th career victory.

Various analysts believed the challenger, 31, merited the victory but the contender suffered the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.

Buatsi Secures Triumph in Uneventful Affair

Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.

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

He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to take risks in a calculated early stages.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second appearance at the higher weight class.

By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective periods.

The crowd's patience wore thin during regular grabbing, with Parker going down several times during grappling.

The underdog closed well, but many rounds were hard to judge. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.

The victor progresses, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still seems difficult.

Hatton Tribute Inspires All-Manchester Fight

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester contest to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.

The arena became quiet for a profoundly moving memorial ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony rang in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in September.

It was the first major televised boxing event in the city since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the silence transitioned to a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting within the ring matched the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch flush on the chin in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the eight count.

But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the fighters traded powerful shots.

Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over twelve rounds.

The victor barely secured the decision with scoring tallies of 114-114, narrow lead and 115-112, but both fighters were persistent and full of heart, everything their idol the legend represented.