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UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing start to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close 10-round bout at the boxing arena.

But Parker found success, connecting with powerful single shots in a contest where the approaches failed to mesh, with excessive holding disrupting the fight.

The officials had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a even score.

"It wasn't my greatest display but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor said in the ringside as he was greeted with negative reactions from the crowd.

The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th pro success.

Some ringside observers felt Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.

Buatsi Secures Victory in Dull Encounter

Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent times through contract problems and extended periods of lack of fights.

Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.

He started carefully, with neither fighter prepared to be aggressive in a calculated initial rounds.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to edge the cleaner rounds.

The spectators' acceptance wore thin because of frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.

The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi advances, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates Manchester Derby Contest

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent all-Manchester fight to secure the European light-heavyweight title.

The stadium became quiet for a deeply poignant homage before the fight as a bell ceremony rang in memory of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised match card in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound faded, the quiet became a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting inside the ropes matched the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow squarely on the jaw in the second round, standing uncertainly to his position on the count of eight.

But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured quickly, noticeable damage forming under his orbital area as the pair traded hard punches.

Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over twelve rounds.

The victor narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of draw, narrow lead and clearer margin, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, everything their inspiration the legend stood for.