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British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing beginning to his career under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round contest at the boxing arena.

But Parker had his moments, delivering effective single shots in a fight where the techniques failed to mesh, with excessive holding marring the contest.

Two judges scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.

"It wasn't my greatest performance but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was faced boos from the spectators.

The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.

Various analysts believed Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-fight career.

Buatsi Earns Triumph in Slow Affair

His career development has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.

Previously predicted as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under new promotional backing.

He started carefully, with both competitors willing to be aggressive in a calculated early stages.

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner rounds.

The crowd's patience diminished amid constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during close exchanges.

The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.

The victor moves on, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still seems difficult.

Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Fight

In the co-main event, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent all-Manchester battle to win the European light heavyweight belt.

The arena became quiet for a deeply poignant homage before the fight as ten bells tolled in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in last month.

It was the premier televised match card in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound faded, the quiet transitioned to a shout of "there's only one Hatton".

The fighting inside the ropes matched the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch flush on the chin in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the eight count.

But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up soon, noticeable damage forming under his orbital area as the pair exchanged hard punches.

Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the pace hardly diminished over the full distance.

Arthur narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of draw, narrow lead and wider gap, but each competitor were determined and full of heart, exactly what their inspiration Hatton stood for.