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British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive debut to his career under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round contest at the boxing arena.

But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective individual punches in a contest where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing spoiling the contest.

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

"It wasn't my finest showing but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor said in the arena as he was faced disapproval from the audience.

The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.

Various analysts thought the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second setback of his 28-bout career.

Buatsi Claims Triumph in Dull Match

The fighter's advancement has stalled in the past few years through promotional disputes and long spells of lack of fights.

Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.

He started carefully, with neither fighter willing to overcommit in a tentative opening few rounds.

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

By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to barely take the more effective stanzas.

The audience's tolerance diminished because of frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor several times during grappling.

The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.

The victor progresses, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Fight

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester battle to win the European light heavyweight belt.

The venue became quiet for a deeply poignant tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in memory of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in last month.

It was the premier televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The action within the ring matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow directly to the chin in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his position on the eight count.

But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, noticeable damage forming under his orbital area as the pair exchanged punishing blows.

The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over 12 rounds.

Arthur edged the decision with official scores of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but both fighters were persistent and full of heart, all the qualities their hero Hatton represented.