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UK light-heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming debut to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a split decision in a competitive 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger had his moments, connecting with powerful individual punches in a match where the techniques failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the contest.

The officials judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.

"It wasn't my greatest display but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was faced negative reactions from the spectators.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.

Several boxing experts believed the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second defeat of his 28-match career.

The Champion Earns Victory in Dull Encounter

His career development has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.

Once tipped as the next star of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what seems like a last chance - under new promotional backing.

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

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was making just his second appearance at the higher weight class.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner periods.

The crowd's patience decreased because of regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during close exchanges.

The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Although, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just a single round.

The victor progresses, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Homage Fuels Manchester Derby Battle

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a excellent all-Manchester fight to secure the European light-heavyweight title.

The venue fell silent for a extremely emotional homage before the fight as a bell ceremony sounded in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in September.

It was the premier televised boxing event in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell disappeared, the silence gave way to a roar of "there's only one Hatton".

The fighting within the ring reflected the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook flush on the face in the second round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the referee's count.

But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, significant bruising forming under his face as the duo landed punishing blows.

Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over 12 rounds.

The victor edged the verdict with official scores of even score, close margin and clearer margin, but the two athletes were determined and full of heart, everything their hero the legend represented.