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British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a majority decision in a tight ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.

But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling single shots in a fight where the approaches didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing marring the contest.

The scoring judges had it 96-94 in favor 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 commented in the arena as he was greeted with negative reactions from the spectators.

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

Some ringside observers thought Parker, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the British boxer experienced the second setback of his 28-bout career.

Buatsi Claims Victory in Uneventful Match

Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent years 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 - maybe in what seems like a last chance - under new promotional backing.

He started carefully, with neither fighter ready to overcommit in a tentative early stages.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was making just his second appearance 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 barely take the cleaner periods.

The audience's tolerance decreased during constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.

The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still appears challenging.

Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Fight

In the supporting bout, Arthur beat Rea by split-decision in a terrific all-Manchester contest to capture the European light heavyweight belt.

The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional homage ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in honor of the city's native Hatton, who died aged 46 in September.

It was the first major televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound faded, the quiet gave way to a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch directly to the face in the early round, rising shakily to his position on the eight count.

But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured early, heavy swelling appearing under his face as the duo traded hard punches.

Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.

Arthur barely secured the result with judges scorecards of draw, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were relentless and brave, exactly what their inspiration Hatton stood for.