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UK light-heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a split decision in a close 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling single shots in a fight where the approaches failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the action.

The officials judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.

"It wasn't my greatest showing but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi said in the ring as he was greeted with negative reactions from the spectators.

The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th pro success.

Several boxing experts believed Parker, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.

The Champion Claims Victory in Slow Encounter

His career development has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and long spells of lack of fights.

Previously predicted as the next star of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.

He opened tentatively, with neither fighter ready to take risks in a tentative initial rounds.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was participating in his second appearance at light heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to narrowly win the more effective periods.

The audience's tolerance diminished during regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during close exchanges.

Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Fight

In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry battle to secure the European light heavyweight championship.

The stadium fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound faded, the stillness became a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The action inside the ropes matched the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch flush on the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the eight count.

But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged early, heavy swelling appearing under his face as the duo traded punishing blows.

The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over the full distance.

The victor narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, narrow lead and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, all the qualities their inspiration the legend represented.