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UK light heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a split decision in a close 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective single shots in a contest where the approaches failed to mesh, with frequent clinching marring the action.

The scoring judges judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a even score.

"It wasn't my best performance but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was greeted with negative reactions from the audience.

The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th career victory.

Several boxing experts felt Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the contender suffered the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.

Buatsi Claims Victory in Slow Match

The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent times through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.

Once tipped as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.

He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to take risks in a cagey opening few rounds.

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was participating in his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.

The crowd's patience wore thin amid regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.

The underdog closed well, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Fight

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry contest to capture the continental belt.

The stadium fell silent for a profoundly moving homage ahead of the contest as 10 bells rang in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in September.

It was the first major televised fight night in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound disappeared, the silence gave way to a roar of "only one Hatton".

The competition within the ring reflected the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook squarely on the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the referee's count.

But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged quickly, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the duo exchanged powerful shots.

Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over twelve rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the decision with scoring tallies of 114-114, narrow lead and wider gap, but the two athletes were determined and brave, all the qualities their inspiration the legend represented.