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British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing debut to his career under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round contest at the boxing arena.

But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective single shots in a fight where the styles never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the contest.

Two judges scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.

"It wasn't my finest showing but how do champions respond? They win," the victor commented in the ringside as he was met by negative reactions from the spectators.

The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.

Various analysts believed the challenger, 31, merited the decision but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-match career.

Buatsi Earns Victory in Uneventful Encounter

His career development has slowed in recent times through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.

Once tipped as the rising talent of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.

He began cautiously, with the two boxers willing to take risks in a tentative opening few rounds.

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was making just his second fight at light heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to edge the better periods.

The spectators' acceptance diminished during frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during close exchanges.

Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Although, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor advances, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still looks steep.

Hatton Tribute Inspires All-Manchester Contest

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry fight to capture the European light-heavyweight championship.

The stadium became quiet for a deeply poignant tribute ahead of the contest as 10 bells rang in honor of local hero Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in last month.

It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound faded, the silence gave way to a roar of "there's only one Hatton".

The fighting during the bout equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch directly to the jaw in the second round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.

But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up early, heavy swelling appearing under his eye as the pair exchanged hard punches.

The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over twelve rounds.

The victor edged the result with official scores of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but each competitor were determined and courageous, everything their inspiration the legend stood for.