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UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing start to his career under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker found success, landing some telling individual punches in a match where the techniques failed to mesh, with excessive holding disrupting the contest.

The officials judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my greatest showing but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor stated in the ring as he was met by disapproval from the crowd.

The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.

Several boxing experts believed the challenger, thirty-one, merited the victory but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout career.

Buatsi Claims Victory in Slow Affair

Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent times through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the next star of British boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under recent support.

He began cautiously, with both competitors willing to be aggressive in a cagey initial rounds.

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was making just his second bout at light-heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to edge the cleaner periods.

The spectators' acceptance decreased amid regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.

The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.

Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Fight

In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester fight to win the continental title.

The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.

It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the final chime disappeared, the silence became a roar of "there's only one Hatton".

The fighting inside the ropes equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook flush on the face in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.

But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured quickly, noticeable damage appearing under his face as the pair traded punishing blows.

Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the decision with scoring tallies of draw, 115-113 and clearer margin, but each competitor were determined and full of heart, exactly what their idol the legend embodied.