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UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming start to life under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.

But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a match where the techniques didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the fight.

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

"It wasn't my greatest performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was faced boos from the spectators.

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

Various analysts felt the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second setback of his 28-match career.

The Champion Claims Victory in Slow Match

His career development has slowed in recent years through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.

Once tipped as the future of UK boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under recent support.

He opened tentatively, with the two boxers prepared to take risks in a tentative early stages.

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was making just his second fight at light heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to narrowly win the better periods.

The audience's tolerance decreased amid frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during grappling.

The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.

The victor progresses, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still looks steep.

Hatton Tribute Inspires Local Rivalry Fight

In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a outstanding local rivalry battle to secure the European light-heavyweight belt.

The stadium became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial before the fight as 10 bells sounded in memory of the city's native Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in recently.

It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound faded, the stillness gave way to a roar of "only one Hatton".

The competition within the ring matched the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow squarely on the face in the second round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the referee's count.

But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up early, noticeable damage forming under his face as the fighters exchanged punishing blows.

Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over twelve rounds.

Arthur edged the result with judges scorecards of 114-114, 115-113 and wider gap, but each competitor were relentless and brave, all the qualities their idol Hatton embodied.