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UK light-heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive beginning to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a split decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective individual punches in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.

The scoring judges scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.

"It wasn't my best showing but what defines champions? They win," the victor stated in the arena as he was met by disapproval from the audience.

The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.

Some ringside observers thought Parker, thirty-one, merited the victory but the contender suffered the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.

The Champion Claims Victory in Uneventful Encounter

His career development has stalled in recent times through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.

Once tipped as the future of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.

He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a cagey opening few rounds.

The challenger, whose single earlier setback 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 fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to barely take the cleaner periods.

The spectators' acceptance wore thin because of frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during grappling.

Parker closed well, but many rounds were difficult to score. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi advances, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.

Hatton Memorial Fuels All-Manchester Battle

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester contest to capture the European light heavyweight belt.

The arena grew hushed for a profoundly moving tribute prior to the bout as ten bells sounded in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.

It was the first major televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's death. As the last bell faded, the silence gave way to a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The competition within the ring equaled the feeling. Arthur was floored by a left hook flush on the chin in the initial stage, rising shakily to his feet on the referee's count.

But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured early, significant bruising developing under his eye as the pair exchanged powerful shots.

Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over 12 rounds.

Arthur edged the result with judges scorecards of draw, narrow lead and 115-112, but both fighters were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their hero Hatton stood for.