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British light-heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive start to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a split decision in a close 10-round bout at the boxing arena.

But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful single shots in a match where the approaches failed to mesh, with excessive holding spoiling the action.

Two judges scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my best performance but how do champions respond? They win," the victor said in the arena as he was greeted with boos from the audience.

The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th pro success.

Some ringside observers felt the challenger, thirty-one, merited the decision but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout career.

The Champion Claims Victory in Uneventful Affair

The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent years through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.

Earlier forecast as the rising talent of British boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under recent support.

He started carefully, with neither fighter prepared to take risks in a tentative opening few rounds.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was making just his second appearance at light-heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to barely take the better stanzas.

The audience's tolerance wore thin because of frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.

Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just one round.

The victor progresses, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates Local Rivalry Contest

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester battle to secure the continental belt.

The venue became quiet for a extremely emotional homage before the fight as 10 bells rang in memory of the city's native Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised fight night in the location since Hatton's death. As the final chime disappeared, the stillness became a shout of "only one Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch directly to the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his position on the count of eight.

But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage forming under his orbital area as the duo traded powerful shots.

The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over twelve rounds.

Arthur barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, narrow lead and wider gap, but both fighters were persistent and brave, all the qualities their inspiration the legend stood for.