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UK light-heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close 10-round bout at the Manchester venue.

But Parker had his moments, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching marring the contest.

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

"It wasn't my finest display but what do champions do? They win," the victor stated in the arena as he was faced boos from the spectators.

The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th pro success.

Several boxing experts thought the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.

The Champion Claims Triumph in Dull Affair

The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent times through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the future of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - maybe in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.

He began cautiously, with the two boxers ready to take risks in a tentative early stages.

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was participating in his second bout at light heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.

The spectators' acceptance diminished during frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during grappling.

Parker closed well, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi moves on, 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 looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Battle

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester battle to capture the European light heavyweight championship.

The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who died at age 46 in September.

It was the premier televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the final chime ended, the silence gave way to a shout of "there's just one Hatton".

The fighting inside the ropes matched the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook flush on the face in the second round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the eight count.

But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged quickly, significant bruising developing under his eye as the fighters landed punishing blows.

Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over the full distance.

Arthur narrowly won the decision with scoring tallies of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton represented.