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UK light-heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing beginning to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a split decision in a close 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling single shots in a fight where the styles failed to mesh, with frequent clinching disrupting the contest.

Two judges judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my finest performance but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor commented in the ring as he was met by boos from the crowd.

The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th pro success.

Several boxing experts thought the challenger, thirty-one, merited the win but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second setback of his 28-fight career.

The Champion Earns Win in Slow Match

His career development has slowed in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.

Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.

He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to be aggressive in a calculated early stages.

The challenger, 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 bout at light-heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to edge the more effective stanzas.

The spectators' acceptance decreased because of regular grabbing, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during close exchanges.

Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.

Hatton Homage Fuels All-Manchester Fight

In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent all-Manchester battle to win the European light-heavyweight belt.

The stadium grew hushed for a profoundly moving tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony sounded in memory of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in last month.

It was the premier televised boxing event in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime faded, the stillness became a shout of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting inside the ropes matched the feeling. Arthur was floored by a left hook squarely on the face in the early round, rising shakily to his position on the count of eight.

But the Manchester United-red shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up soon, noticeable damage developing under his eye as the fighters traded hard punches.

The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over 12 rounds.

Arthur barely secured the result with scoring tallies of 114-114, narrow lead and clearer margin, but both fighters were determined and brave, exactly what their idol Hatton represented.