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British light-heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming start to life under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a split decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the boxing arena.

But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful individual punches in a contest where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the fight.

The scoring judges had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a even score.

"It wasn't my greatest performance but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor stated in the arena as he was greeted with disapproval from the audience.

The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.

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

Buatsi Secures Victory in Slow Encounter

His career development has plateaued in recent years through management issues and long spells of inactivity.

Once tipped as the future of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what seems like a last chance - under new promotional backing.

He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to overcommit in a tentative opening few rounds.

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second bout at light-heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to edge the cleaner rounds.

The audience's tolerance diminished during constant clinching, with the challenger going down several times during close exchanges.

The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.

The victor advances, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates All-Manchester Battle

In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a terrific all-Manchester battle to secure the European light-heavyweight belt.

The arena grew hushed for a profoundly moving homage before the fight as ten bells sounded in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the stillness became a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting within the ring reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch directly to the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the eight count.

But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured early, heavy swelling forming under his face as the duo exchanged hard punches.

The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over twelve rounds.

The victor narrowly won the verdict with judges scorecards of even score, close margin and 115-112, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their inspiration the legend embodied.