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UK light heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective single shots in a fight where the styles failed to mesh, with excessive holding marring the fight.

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

"It wasn't my finest display but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was met by disapproval from the spectators.

The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th career victory.

Some ringside observers felt the challenger, 31, deserved the decision but the contender endured the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.

The Champion Secures Triumph in Slow Match

The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent times through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.

He began cautiously, with both competitors ready to take risks in a calculated opening few rounds.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.

The crowd's patience diminished amid constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during clinches.

Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just a single round.

The victor 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 looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Local Rivalry Contest

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a excellent local rivalry battle to secure the European light heavyweight belt.

The venue grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute prior to the bout as 10 bells rang in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in last month.

It was the first major televised fight night in the location since Hatton's death. As the final chime ended, the quiet became a shout of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The competition within the ring equaled the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook directly to the jaw in the second round, standing uncertainly to his position on the count of eight.

But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured soon, heavy swelling appearing under his eye as the pair exchanged powerful shots.

Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.

Arthur barely secured the result with scoring tallies of draw, narrow lead and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and courageous, exactly what their idol Hatton stood for.