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UK light-heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

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

But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling individual punches in a match where the styles didn't complement each other, with excessive holding marring the fight.

The officials judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.

"It wasn't my best display but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor said in the ringside as he was faced boos from the spectators.

The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th pro success.

Various analysts felt Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.

The Champion Claims Win in Slow Affair

His career development has slowed in recent years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the future of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what seems like a last chance - under new promotional backing.

He opened tentatively, with neither fighter willing to be aggressive in a tentative opening few rounds.

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand during the bout, was making just his second appearance at the higher weight class.

By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to barely take the better stanzas.

The audience's tolerance decreased because of frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.

Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still seems difficult.

Hatton Tribute Motivates All-Manchester Battle

In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester contest to secure the European light heavyweight championship.

The arena fell silent for a extremely emotional memorial ahead of the contest as 10 bells sounded in honor of the city's native Hatton, who died 46 years old in last month.

It was the first major televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the final chime disappeared, the stillness gave way to a roar of "there's only one Hatton".

The action inside the ropes equaled the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow directly to the face in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his position on the referee's count.

But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured early, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the pair traded punishing blows.

Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.

Arthur edged the decision with scoring tallies of 114-114, narrow lead and 115-112, but the two athletes were determined and brave, exactly what their hero the legend stood for.