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

The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a split decision in a close 10-round bout at the boxing arena.

But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling clean blows in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the fight.

The officials scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.

"It wasn't my greatest showing but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was faced negative reactions from the spectators.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th career victory.

Several boxing experts thought Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second defeat of his 28-match career.

The Champion Earns Triumph in Slow Encounter

The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent years through promotional disputes and considerable time of lack of fights.

Previously predicted as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what seems like a last chance - under recent support.

He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to take risks in a tentative opening few rounds.

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

By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a solid defense to edge the more effective rounds.

The spectators' acceptance diminished during frequent holding, with Parker 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 - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates All-Manchester Battle

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding all-Manchester fight to secure the European light heavyweight belt.

The stadium became quiet for a profoundly moving homage prior to the bout as 10 bells tolled in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in September.

It was the first major televised fight night in the city since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the stillness became a chant of "there's just one Hatton".

The action during the bout reflected the emotion. Arthur was floored by a left hook flush on the jaw in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the count of eight.

But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the duo traded powerful shots.

Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over twelve rounds.

The victor edged the result with scoring tallies of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and brave, everything their idol the legend stood for.