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UK light heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing start to life under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a split decision in a tight ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.

But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful individual punches in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with constant grabbing disrupting the action.

Two judges scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my finest performance but what do champions do? They win," the victor stated in the ring as he was faced boos from the crowd.

The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.

Several boxing experts believed Parker, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the contender experienced the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.

The Champion Secures Win in Slow Match

The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent times through management issues and long spells of lack of fights.

Once tipped as the next star of British boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under fresh management.

He began cautiously, with both competitors willing to take risks in a cagey opening few rounds.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was making just his second fight at light heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to edge the better rounds.

The crowd's patience wore thin during regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during grappling.

Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still seems difficult.

Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Contest

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry fight to win the continental championship.

The arena grew hushed for a deeply poignant memorial prior to the bout as ten bells tolled in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who died aged 46 in September.

It was the premier televised match card in the location since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound disappeared, the silence became a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting within the ring reflected the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow directly to the chin in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his position on the count of eight.

But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged early, significant bruising forming under his face as the pair exchanged punishing blows.

Rea, 27, landed power punches but the champion, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and full of heart, all the qualities their idol Hatton embodied.