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UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to life under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round fight at the boxing arena.

But the challenger found success, delivering effective individual punches in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching disrupting the action.

The scoring judges judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.

"It wasn't my greatest performance but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was met by disapproval from the crowd.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.

Several boxing experts believed the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the win but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second loss of his 28-fight career.

Buatsi Claims Win in Slow Affair

Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent times through management issues and long spells of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the future of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what seems like a last chance - under new promotional backing.

He opened tentatively, with both competitors prepared to be aggressive in a tentative opening few rounds.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second fight at the higher weight class.

By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to edge the better periods.

The crowd's patience diminished during frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.

The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.

The victor advances, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Fight

In the supporting bout, Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry fight to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.

The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute prior to the bout as 10 bells sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in recently.

It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "there's only one Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes equaled the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook squarely on the jaw in the early round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the eight count.

But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured soon, significant bruising developing under his face as the fighters exchanged powerful shots.

The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over the full distance.

Arthur edged the decision with judges scorecards of draw, narrow lead and wider gap, but both fighters were relentless and brave, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton stood for.