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UK light-heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing debut to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a majority decision in a tight 10-round contest at the boxing arena.

But Parker had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the fight.

The scoring judges judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.

"It wasn't my greatest display but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was met by boos from the crowd.

The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.

Various analysts felt Parker, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the British boxer experienced the second defeat of his 28-bout career.

Buatsi Secures Triumph in Dull Match

His career development has plateaued in recent years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.

He started carefully, with the two boxers prepared to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the better periods.

The audience's tolerance wore thin because of frequent holding, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during grappling.

Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. However, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi advances, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Battle

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester contest to capture the European light-heavyweight title.

The arena became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial before the fight as 10 bells sounded in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in last month.

It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the location since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound disappeared, the quiet transitioned to a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes matched the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook squarely on the face in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the count of eight.

But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged quickly, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the pair exchanged punishing blows.

Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over 12 rounds.

Arthur barely secured the verdict with official scores of 114-114, close margin and clearer margin, but the two athletes were determined and brave, all the qualities their idol Hatton stood for.