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British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a split decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger found success, delivering effective individual punches in a contest where the approaches never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the action.

Two judges scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.

"It wasn't my greatest display but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was faced boos from the spectators.

The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.

Several boxing experts thought the challenger, thirty-one, merited the win but the contender endured the second defeat of his 28-match career.

Buatsi Earns Triumph in Slow Affair

His career development has plateaued in recent years through management issues and extended periods of lack of fights.

Previously predicted as the rising talent of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.

He started carefully, with the two boxers ready to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to edge the cleaner periods.

The audience's tolerance diminished during constant clinching, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during clinches.

The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates Local Rivalry Fight

In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding local rivalry battle to secure the European light heavyweight championship.

The stadium became quiet for a extremely emotional memorial ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.

It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime faded, the silence became a roar of "there's only one Hatton".

The action within the ring equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow squarely on the face in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the eight count.

But the Manchester United-red shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged soon, significant bruising developing under his eye as the fighters traded powerful shots.

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

Arthur narrowly won the result with scoring tallies of draw, 115-113 and wider gap, but both fighters were persistent and full of heart, everything their hero the legend stood for.