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UK light-heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming debut to life under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful single shots in a contest where the styles never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the action.

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

"It wasn't my best display but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was faced boos from the crowd.

The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th pro success.

Various analysts believed the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the contender endured the second loss of his 28-match career.

The Champion Claims Triumph in Slow Match

His career development has stalled in recent times through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.

He began cautiously, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a cagey initial rounds.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was participating in his second appearance at the higher weight class.

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to narrowly win the cleaner periods.

The spectators' acceptance wore thin during constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during clinches.

Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.

The victor moves on, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.

Ricky Hatton Homage Fuels Manchester Derby Fight

In the secondary fight, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to secure the European light heavyweight title.

The arena became quiet for a deeply poignant homage before the fight as 10 bells sounded in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in last month.

It was the premier televised match card in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell ended, the silence gave way to a shout of "there's just one Hatton".

The action during the bout matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch squarely on the jaw in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the eight count.

But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured quickly, noticeable damage developing under his orbital area as the duo exchanged punishing blows.

The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over 12 rounds.

Arthur barely secured the verdict with official scores of 114-114, narrow lead and wider gap, but both fighters were persistent and brave, everything their hero the legend represented.