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UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming start to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round bout at the boxing arena.

But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling clean blows in a fight where the techniques didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing spoiling the contest.

The officials judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my best showing but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was met by disapproval from the audience.

The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.

Several boxing experts thought Parker, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-match career.

The Champion Claims Win in Slow Match

His career development has stalled in the past few years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the future of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.

He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to be aggressive in a cagey opening few rounds.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second fight at the higher weight class.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the cleaner periods.

The audience's tolerance wore thin because of regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.

The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still appears challenging.

Hatton Homage Motivates Local Rivalry Battle

In the co-main event, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding all-Manchester contest to secure the continental belt.

The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial before the fight as ten bells rang in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in September.

It was the premier televised match card in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime ended, the quiet became a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The competition during the bout matched the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch directly to the chin in the second round, rising shakily to his position on the eight count.

But the red-colored attire of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, noticeable damage forming under his face as the fighters exchanged punishing blows.

Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the action rarely dropped over the full distance.

The victor barely secured the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, close margin and 115-112, but the two athletes were relentless and courageous, exactly what their inspiration Hatton stood for.