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UK light-heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level likely gained him a split decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker found success, delivering effective clean blows in a fight where the techniques never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the fight.

The officials scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a even score.

"It wasn't my greatest display but how do champions respond? They win," the victor stated in the ring as he was met by boos from the crowd.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.

Some ringside observers thought Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer endured the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.

Buatsi Earns Victory in Slow Encounter

His career development has plateaued in recent times through contract problems and long spells of lack of fights.

Earlier forecast as the future of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what appears to be a last chance - under recent support.

He began cautiously, with neither fighter ready to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was competing in only his second bout at light-heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to barely take the better rounds.

The spectators' acceptance decreased amid regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.

The underdog closed well, but many rounds were hard to judge. However, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.

The victor moves on, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still seems difficult.

Hatton Memorial Motivates Manchester Derby Battle

In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry battle to win the European light heavyweight belt.

The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant homage prior to the bout as 10 bells rang in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in September.

It was the first major televised match card in the city since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound disappeared, the silence transitioned to a roar of "there's only one Hatton".

The competition during the bout reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook squarely on the face in the early round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the eight count.

But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured quickly, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the fighters landed hard punches.

Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.

The victor narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and clearer margin, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, exactly what their inspiration Hatton represented.