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

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output appeared to earn him a split decision in a close 10-round fight at the boxing arena.

But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the techniques never quite clicked, with excessive holding marring the fight.

Two judges scored it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my finest performance but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor stated in the arena as he was met by negative reactions from the audience.

The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.

Some ringside observers felt Parker, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second setback of his 28-match career.

The Champion Claims Triumph in Slow Encounter

His career development has slowed in recent years through management issues and considerable time of lack of fights.

Earlier forecast as the future of UK boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - maybe in what seems like a last chance - under new promotional backing.

He opened tentatively, with both competitors prepared to take risks in a cagey early stages.

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second appearance at the higher weight class.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to barely take the better periods.

The crowd's patience diminished amid frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during close exchanges.

Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor advances, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.

Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Battle

In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific all-Manchester contest to capture the continental belt.

The stadium fell silent for a extremely emotional memorial prior to the bout as 10 bells sounded in honor of the city's native Hatton, who died at age 46 in last month.

It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound disappeared, the quiet became a roar of "there's only one Hatton".

The fighting within the ring equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the second round, rising shakily to his feet on the count of eight.

But the red-colored attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, heavy swelling appearing under his eye as the duo exchanged powerful shots.

Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the decision with official scores of draw, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were determined and brave, everything their hero Hatton embodied.