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British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a split decision in a competitive ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective single shots in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the contest.

The scoring judges scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my greatest performance but how do champions respond? They win," the victor stated in the ring as he was faced disapproval from the audience.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th pro success.

Some ringside observers believed Parker, 31, merited the victory but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.

Buatsi Secures Triumph in Dull Match

The fighter's advancement has plateaued in the past few years through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.

He opened tentatively, with neither fighter prepared to be aggressive in a cagey early stages.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was making just his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to narrowly win the cleaner rounds.

The audience's tolerance diminished because of constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.

Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just one round.

The victor advances, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Battle

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry contest to capture the European light-heavyweight title.

The arena fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial prior to the bout as ten bells tolled in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised match card in the city since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the silence gave way to a chant of "only one Hatton".

The action inside the ropes matched the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook flush on the face in the second round, standing uncertainly to his position on the referee's count.

But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged quickly, heavy swelling developing under his orbital area as the pair landed powerful shots.

The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over 12 rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of draw, 115-113 and 115-112, but each competitor were persistent and courageous, exactly what their idol Hatton represented.