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

The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a close 10-round bout at the boxing arena.

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

Two judges judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a even score.

"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They win," the victor said in the arena as he was faced boos from the audience.

The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.

Some ringside observers believed the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the contender suffered the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.

Buatsi Earns Triumph in Slow Encounter

Buatsi's progress has slowed in the past few years through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.

Earlier forecast as the future of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.

He began cautiously, with the two boxers prepared to overcommit in a cagey early stages.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was making just his second appearance at the higher weight class.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to edge the cleaner stanzas.

The audience's tolerance wore thin because of constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.

The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still appears challenging.

Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Battle

In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to capture the European light heavyweight title.

The stadium became quiet for a profoundly moving homage ahead of the contest as ten bells sounded in memory of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in September.

It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell ended, the stillness gave way to a chant of "there's just one Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes reflected the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch squarely on the chin in the second round, rising shakily to his position on the count of eight.

But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up early, significant bruising developing under his face as the duo landed powerful shots.

The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action rarely dropped over 12 rounds.

Arthur edged the result with official scores of even score, close margin and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and brave, exactly what their hero the legend stood for.