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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 the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective clean blows in a fight where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the contest.

Two judges scored it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.

"It wasn't my greatest display but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi said in the arena as he was faced boos from the spectators.

The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.

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

Buatsi Earns Victory in Dull Affair

His career development has slowed in recent years through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.

Earlier forecast as the future of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.

He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to overcommit in a cagey early stages.

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was making just his second appearance at light-heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to edge the better periods.

The audience's tolerance diminished during constant clinching, with Parker going down various instances during grappling.

The underdog closed well, but many rounds were hard to judge. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Contest

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry fight to win the European light heavyweight title.

The venue grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage prior to the bout as ten bells sounded in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in recently.

It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a chant of "there's only one Hatton".

The action during the bout equaled the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow squarely on the chin in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the count of eight.

But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was injured quickly, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the fighters exchanged punishing blows.

The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the intensity hardly diminished over twelve rounds.

The victor edged the result with judges scorecards of 114-114, narrow lead and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, exactly what their idol Hatton embodied.