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British light heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a majority decision in a close ten-round fight at the boxing arena.

But the challenger found success, delivering effective individual punches in a fight where the techniques didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the action.

The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.

"It wasn't my greatest performance but what do champions do? They win," the victor stated in the ringside as he was met by negative reactions from the spectators.

The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.

Various analysts felt Parker, thirty-one, merited the decision but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-bout career.

The Champion Earns Win in Uneventful Encounter

His career development has slowed in recent times through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.

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

He started carefully, with the two boxers ready to overcommit in a tentative early stages.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was making just his second fight at the higher weight class.

By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a solid defense to narrowly win the cleaner periods.

The audience's tolerance decreased amid regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.

Parker closed well, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor progresses, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still appears challenging.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires Local Rivalry Fight

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a excellent all-Manchester battle to win the European light heavyweight title.

The stadium grew hushed for a profoundly moving memorial ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in honor of the city's native Hatton, who died 46 years old in recently.

It was the first major televised match card in the location since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound disappeared, the stillness became a shout of "there's only one Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a left hook directly to the jaw in the second round, rising shakily to his position on the count of eight.

But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up early, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the duo traded hard punches.

The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over 12 rounds.

The victor narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of draw, narrow lead and 115-112, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton embodied.