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British light-heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing beginning to his career under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output seemingly secured him a split decision in a tight 10-round fight at the boxing arena.

But the challenger found success, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the styles didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing spoiling the fight.

The officials had it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my best showing but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was faced boos from the audience.

The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th pro success.

Some ringside observers felt the challenger, 31, merited the victory but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-match career.

The Champion Earns Victory in Dull Match

Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent times through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the future of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under recent support.

He began cautiously, with both competitors ready to be aggressive in a tentative early stages.

The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was participating in his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to edge the better stanzas.

The audience's tolerance diminished amid frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.

Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi advances, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still looks steep.

Hatton Homage Motivates All-Manchester Contest

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to secure the continental title.

The arena fell silent for a extremely emotional homage before the fight as ten bells sounded in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in recently.

It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the location since Hatton's death. As the last bell faded, the stillness gave way to a roar of "there's only one Hatton".

The fighting inside the ropes matched the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook directly to the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the referee's count.

But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, noticeable damage appearing under his eye as the fighters exchanged punishing blows.

The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over twelve rounds.

The victor narrowly won the verdict with official scores of draw, close margin and wider gap, but both fighters were determined and brave, all the qualities their inspiration the legend represented.