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British light heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing start to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker had his moments, landing some telling clean blows in a fight where the approaches didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching spoiling the fight.

The officials scored it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a even score.

"It wasn't my best showing but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor commented in the ring as he was met by boos from the spectators.

The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th career victory.

Several boxing experts thought Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer endured the second loss of his 28-match career.

The Champion Secures Win in Dull Affair

Buatsi's progress has plateaued in the past few years through management issues and long spells of inactivity.

Once tipped as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.

He opened tentatively, with neither fighter prepared to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the cleaner rounds.

The audience's tolerance wore thin because of constant clinching, with the challenger going down several times during close exchanges.

The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor advances, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still appears challenging.

Hatton Homage Motivates Manchester Derby Fight

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester contest to win the European light-heavyweight championship.

The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving tribute prior to the bout as ten bells rang in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in last month.

It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the last bell ended, the stillness became a shout of "there's just one Hatton".

The fighting during the bout matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook flush on the jaw in the early round, standing uncertainly to his position on the eight count.

But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, heavy swelling appearing under his orbital area as the fighters landed punishing blows.

The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over twelve rounds.

The victor edged the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, narrow lead and clearer margin, but each competitor were relentless and brave, exactly what their idol Hatton represented.