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UK light heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to life under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a split decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger had his moments, connecting with powerful single shots in a fight where the approaches didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing disrupting the action.

The officials scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a even score.

"It wasn't my greatest display but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was faced disapproval from the spectators.

The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.

Some ringside observers felt the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer endured the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.

The Champion Secures Triumph in Uneventful Encounter

Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent times through promotional disputes and long spells of lack of fights.

Once tipped as the future of British boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.

He opened tentatively, with the two boxers prepared to overcommit in a tentative early stages.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second bout at light-heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to edge the better rounds.

The crowd's patience decreased amid regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor several times during grappling.

The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still seems difficult.

Hatton Tribute Motivates Local Rivalry Contest

In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester fight to win the continental belt.

The stadium became quiet for a extremely emotional homage ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in memory of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in September.

It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the location since Hatton's death. As the last bell faded, the silence transitioned to a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The action inside the ropes matched the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow directly to the face in the second round, rising shakily to his position on the referee's count.

But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, heavy swelling developing under his orbital area as the pair landed powerful shots.

The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over twelve rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the decision with official scores of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but each competitor were determined and courageous, everything their inspiration Hatton represented.