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UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a majority decision in a tight 10-round fight at the boxing arena.

But the challenger found success, delivering effective clean blows in a fight where the styles never quite clicked, with constant grabbing disrupting the action.

Two judges judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a even score.

"It wasn't my finest performance but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was faced boos from the audience.

The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.

Some ringside observers thought the challenger, thirty-one, merited the win but the contender endured the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.

The Champion Earns Win in Slow Encounter

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

Once tipped as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.

He opened tentatively, with neither fighter willing to take risks in a calculated opening few rounds.

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was participating in his second appearance at the higher weight class.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.

The spectators' acceptance wore thin during frequent holding, with Parker going down several times during grappling.

The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi advances, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still looks steep.

Hatton Tribute Inspires All-Manchester Battle

In the co-main event, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific local rivalry fight to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.

The stadium fell silent for a deeply poignant memorial ahead of the contest as ten bells sounded in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in last month.

It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell ended, the quiet became a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The action during the bout matched the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow squarely on the jaw in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the eight count.

But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured soon, noticeable damage developing under his face as the duo landed powerful shots.

Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over twelve rounds.

The victor narrowly won the result with scoring tallies of 114-114, narrow lead and 115-112, but each competitor were relentless and full of heart, exactly what their idol the legend embodied.