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British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming beginning to his career under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective clean blows in a fight where the styles failed to mesh, with frequent clinching spoiling the fight.

The scoring judges scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a 95-95.

"It wasn't my greatest showing but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was greeted with disapproval from the crowd.

The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.

Several boxing experts felt the challenger, thirty-one, merited the decision but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.

Buatsi Claims Triumph in Dull Affair

The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent times through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.

He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a calculated early stages.

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

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the cleaner rounds.

The spectators' acceptance diminished amid regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.

Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still seems difficult.

Hatton Tribute Inspires Local Rivalry Fight

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a excellent all-Manchester fight to win the European light-heavyweight title.

The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony rang in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in September.

It was the premier televised fight night in the city since Hatton's death. As the final chime ended, the stillness gave way to a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The competition within the ring matched the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow directly to the jaw in the second round, rising shakily to his footing on the count of eight.

But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured early, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the pair exchanged powerful shots.

Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.

Arthur edged the decision with scoring tallies of draw, 115-113 and clearer margin, but each competitor were persistent and courageous, everything their idol Hatton represented.