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UK light-heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing start to life under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a split decision in a tight ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful clean blows in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the action.

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

"It wasn't my finest display but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor stated in the arena as he was met by disapproval from the audience.

The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th pro success.

Several boxing experts thought Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.

The Champion Claims Victory in Dull Encounter

His career development has slowed in recent times through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what appears to be a last chance - under new promotional backing.

He started carefully, with neither fighter prepared to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was competing in only his second fight at the higher weight class.

By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to edge the cleaner stanzas.

The audience's tolerance wore thin during constant clinching, with the challenger going down several times during close exchanges.

The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.

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

Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Fight

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a excellent local rivalry fight to win the continental title.

The venue fell silent for a deeply poignant homage ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in September.

It was the premier televised fight night in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell ended, the stillness transitioned to a chant of "only one Hatton".

The fighting inside the ropes equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook flush on the chin in the initial stage, rising shakily to his feet on the referee's count.

But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged soon, heavy swelling developing under his orbital area as the duo landed powerful shots.

The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the pace rarely dropped over the full distance.

The victor narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of draw, narrow lead and 115-112, but both fighters were persistent and brave, everything their hero Hatton represented.