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UK light heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a majority decision in a close 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.

But Parker found success, landing some telling single shots in a match where the techniques failed to mesh, with excessive holding marring the contest.

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

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

The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.

Various analysts thought Parker, 31, merited the decision but the contender suffered the second setback of his 28-match career.

The Champion Secures Win in Slow Affair

Buatsi's progress has stalled in the past few years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.

He opened tentatively, with the two boxers prepared to overcommit in a calculated initial rounds.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was competing in only his second appearance at light-heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to edge the better periods.

The spectators' acceptance wore thin because of constant clinching, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during grappling.

Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.

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

Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Fight

In the co-main event, Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry fight to win the European light-heavyweight belt.

The venue grew hushed for a extremely emotional homage prior to the bout as 10 bells sounded in memory of local hero Hatton, who died aged 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised fight night in the location since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound disappeared, the quiet gave way to a shout of "there's only one Hatton".

The competition during the bout matched the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook directly to the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the referee's count.

But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling developing under his orbital area as the duo exchanged punishing blows.

The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over 12 rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of draw, narrow lead and 115-112, but the two athletes were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their idol Hatton represented.