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UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a split decision in a competitive ten-round fight at the boxing arena.

But the challenger had his moments, connecting with powerful clean blows in a match where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the contest.

The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.

"It wasn't my finest showing but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor said in the arena as he was greeted with disapproval from the audience.

The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.

Several boxing experts thought the challenger, 31, deserved the victory but the contender experienced the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.

Buatsi Secures Triumph in Slow Encounter

His career development has plateaued in recent years through promotional disputes and long spells of lack of fights.

Earlier forecast as the future of British boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under recent support.

He started carefully, with both competitors ready to take risks in a tentative initial rounds.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to barely take the better stanzas.

The spectators' acceptance decreased during regular grabbing, with Parker going down various instances during grappling.

The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.

The victor advances, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Battle

In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester battle to secure the European light-heavyweight title.

The stadium became quiet for a profoundly moving homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in recently.

It was the first major televised boxing event in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell faded, the silence gave way to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting within the ring equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook squarely on the jaw in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the referee's count.

But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage appearing under his face as the duo landed hard punches.

Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over the full distance.

Arthur barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, narrow lead and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and courageous, exactly what their inspiration Hatton embodied.