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UK light-heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive beginning to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger found success, landing some telling single shots in a match where the styles failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the action.

The scoring judges had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my best performance but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor said in the arena as he was faced boos from the crowd.

The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th career victory.

Some ringside observers thought Parker, thirty-one, merited the win but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second loss of his 28-match career.

The Champion Earns Win in Slow Affair

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

Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.

He began cautiously, with both competitors willing to overcommit in a tentative opening few 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 participating in his second fight at light-heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a solid defense to narrowly win the better rounds.

The crowd's patience wore thin amid frequent holding, with Parker going down several times during clinches.

Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Although, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still appears challenging.

Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Local Rivalry Fight

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent all-Manchester contest to capture the European light heavyweight title.

The venue became quiet for a profoundly moving homage before the fight as ten bells rang in memory of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in last month.

It was the first major televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's death. As the last bell faded, the quiet transitioned to a chant of "there's only one Hatton".

The fighting within the ring matched the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow squarely on the face in the early round, standing uncertainly to his position on the eight count.

But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured early, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the duo traded hard punches.

Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.

The victor edged the decision with scoring tallies of even score, 115-113 and clearer margin, but each competitor were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their inspiration the legend embodied.