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UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive debut to life 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 ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger had his moments, connecting with powerful individual punches in a contest where the styles never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the action.

The scoring judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.

"It wasn't my finest performance but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was faced negative reactions from the crowd.

The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th pro success.

Various analysts thought Parker, 31, merited the decision but the British boxer endured the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.

The Champion Earns Victory in Uneventful Affair

His career development has plateaued in recent times through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.

Once tipped as the future of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.

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

The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was making just his second fight at light-heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to edge the better rounds.

The audience's tolerance decreased because of regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during clinches.

Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Contest

In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester contest to win the European light heavyweight title.

The arena became quiet for a deeply poignant tribute ahead of the contest as 10 bells rang in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised match card in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime disappeared, the silence transitioned to a shout of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The competition during the bout matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook flush on the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his position on the eight count.

But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured soon, noticeable damage forming under his orbital area as the pair landed powerful shots.

Rea, 27, landed power punches but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over 12 rounds.

Arthur edged the decision with official scores of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, everything their idol Hatton represented.