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British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing beginning to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round contest at the boxing arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing marring the fight.

Two judges judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a even score.

"It wasn't my best showing but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi said in the ring as he was faced boos from the crowd.

The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.

Several boxing experts believed Parker, 31, deserved the victory but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second loss of his 28-match career.

Buatsi Earns Triumph in Slow Match

The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent times through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.

Once tipped as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what appears to be a last chance - under new promotional backing.

He opened tentatively, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a calculated initial rounds.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a solid defense to barely take the better periods.

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

Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.

The victor advances, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.

Hatton Memorial Motivates All-Manchester Battle

In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to capture the continental championship.

The venue grew hushed for a profoundly moving memorial ahead of the contest as ten bells sounded in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in September.

It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness gave way to a chant of "there's only one Hatton".

The action within the ring reflected the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch flush on the face in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.

But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured early, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the fighters traded powerful shots.

The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.

Arthur barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of draw, narrow lead and wider gap, but both fighters were determined and courageous, exactly what their idol Hatton represented.