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UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming debut to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

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

But the challenger found success, delivering effective single shots in a contest where the approaches failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the fight.

The officials had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my best performance but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor commented in the ring as he was met by negative reactions from the audience.

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

Some ringside observers thought the challenger, 31, deserved the win but the contender endured the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.

The Champion Secures Triumph in Slow Encounter

The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent years through management issues and considerable time of lack of fights.

Earlier forecast as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.

He began cautiously, with both competitors willing to overcommit in a tentative early stages.

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the halfway stage, the underdog had stayed in contention, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the better periods.

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 challenging to assess. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just a single round.

The victor moves on, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Contest

In the secondary fight, Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to secure the European light-heavyweight title.

The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells tolled in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in September.

It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound disappeared, the stillness became a chant of "only one Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch directly to the chin in the second round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.

But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was damaged soon, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the pair traded punishing blows.

The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over 12 rounds.

The victor narrowly won the result with scoring tallies of even score, close margin and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and brave, all the qualities their hero Hatton embodied.