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British light heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive start to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a split decision in a close ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.

But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective clean blows in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the action.

The officials had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my best performance but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was greeted with disapproval 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 twentieth professional win.

Several boxing experts felt the challenger, 31, merited the decision but the British boxer endured the second loss of his 28-fight career.

The Champion Claims Triumph in Dull Affair

The fighter's advancement has stalled in the past few years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the future of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.

He started carefully, with neither fighter willing to overcommit in a tentative early stages.

The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was participating in his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to barely take the cleaner periods.

The audience's tolerance wore thin amid constant clinching, with Parker going down various instances during close exchanges.

Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still appears challenging.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Battle

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by split-decision in a terrific local rivalry contest to win the European light heavyweight belt.

The arena grew hushed for a deeply poignant memorial prior to the bout as a bell ceremony rang in memory of local hero Hatton, who died 46 years old in September.

It was the premier televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound faded, the silence became a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting inside the ropes reflected the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.

But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up early, significant bruising developing under his face as the duo exchanged hard punches.

Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over 12 rounds.

Arthur barely secured the result with official scores of draw, narrow lead and clearer margin, but both fighters were determined and courageous, all the qualities their idol Hatton represented.