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UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a split decision in a competitive ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger found success, landing some telling single shots in a fight where the styles failed to mesh, with excessive holding disrupting the contest.

The scoring judges scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.

"It wasn't my finest showing but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was greeted with disapproval from the audience.

The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.

Various analysts felt Parker, 31, deserved the victory but the contender suffered the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.

The Champion Earns Victory in Dull Affair

His career development has stalled in recent times through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.

He opened tentatively, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a tentative opening few rounds.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was participating in his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to barely take the more effective stanzas.

The audience's tolerance wore thin during frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during grappling.

The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.

The victor progresses, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still looks steep.

Hatton Homage Fuels Manchester Derby Battle

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry battle to win the continental championship.

The venue fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony rang in honor of the city's native Hatton, who died aged 46 in recently.

It was the first major televised boxing event in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a shout of "there's only one Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook squarely on the chin in the early round, rising shakily to his position on the count of eight.

But the red-colored attire of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured soon, noticeable damage forming under his face as the duo landed punishing blows.

The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.

Arthur narrowly won the result with official scores of draw, narrow lead and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and brave, everything their hero Hatton embodied.