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British light-heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output seemingly secured him a split decision in a tight ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective individual punches in a match where the approaches didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.

Two judges scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.

"It wasn't my greatest showing but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor commented in the ringside as he was met by negative reactions from the audience.

The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.

Several boxing experts thought Parker, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-bout career.

Buatsi Secures Victory in Dull Affair

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

Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.

He opened tentatively, with neither fighter prepared to be aggressive in a cagey early stages.

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was participating in his second appearance at light heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the cleaner periods.

The crowd's patience diminished because of frequent holding, with the challenger going down various instances during close exchanges.

Parker closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor moves on, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates Local Rivalry Contest

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester battle to capture the European light-heavyweight title.

The stadium became quiet for a profoundly moving tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells sounded in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in last month.

It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell disappeared, the silence gave way to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The action inside the ropes matched the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow directly to the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the count of eight.

But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured soon, significant bruising forming under his orbital area as the pair landed powerful shots.

The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over the full distance.

Arthur barely secured the verdict with official scores of draw, close margin and clearer margin, but the two athletes were relentless and courageous, everything their inspiration Hatton stood for.