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UK light-heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming start to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a split decision in a competitive 10-round fight at the boxing arena.

But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling single shots in a contest where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the contest.

The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.

"It wasn't my greatest performance but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was greeted with negative reactions from the audience.

The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th career victory.

Some ringside observers believed the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer experienced the second setback of his 28-fight career.

Buatsi Secures Triumph in Dull Match

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

Once tipped as the next star of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.

He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to take risks in a tentative opening few rounds.

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was competing in only his second fight at light heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to barely take the better periods.

The spectators' acceptance decreased amid frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during grappling.

Parker closed well, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still appears challenging.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates All-Manchester Battle

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester contest to win the continental title.

The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in memory of local hero Hatton, who died 46 years old in recently.

It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound ended, the quiet transitioned to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes matched the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow squarely on the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the referee's count.

But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was damaged soon, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the pair traded hard punches.

The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over 12 rounds.

Arthur barely secured the result with scoring tallies of 114-114, 115-113 and wider gap, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, everything their hero the legend embodied.