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UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round contest at the boxing arena.

But the challenger had his moments, connecting with powerful clean blows in a contest where the approaches failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the fight.

Two judges had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my best display but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was faced disapproval from the spectators.

The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th pro success.

Various analysts thought Parker, thirty-one, deserved the win but the contender experienced the second setback of his 28-match career.

The Champion Secures Victory in Uneventful Encounter

Buatsi's progress has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.

Once tipped as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.

He started carefully, with neither fighter ready to take risks in a calculated initial rounds.

The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was participating in his second appearance at light heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to narrowly win the cleaner periods.

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

The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still appears challenging.

Ricky Hatton Homage Fuels Local Rivalry Fight

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester fight to secure the European light heavyweight title.

The venue grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage prior to the bout as ten bells tolled in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in September.

It was the first major televised match card in the city since Hatton's passing. As the last bell ended, the silence gave way to a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes reflected the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook directly to the chin in the early round, rising shakily to his position on the eight count.

But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged soon, significant bruising appearing under his orbital area as the pair traded powerful shots.

The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over twelve rounds.

Arthur edged the result with judges scorecards of draw, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were relentless and full of heart, everything their hero Hatton embodied.