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British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling single shots in a contest where the styles failed to mesh, with excessive holding disrupting the fight.

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

"It wasn't my best display but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was faced disapproval from the audience.

The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th career victory.

Various analysts thought Parker, thirty-one, merited the victory but the contender endured the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.

Buatsi Secures Win in Uneventful Match

The fighter's advancement has stalled in the past few years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the next star of British boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.

He began cautiously, with both competitors willing to be aggressive in a cagey opening few rounds.

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was making just his second appearance at light heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective rounds.

The audience's tolerance decreased amid frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.

Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.

The victor progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still appears challenging.

Hatton Memorial Motivates All-Manchester Battle

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to capture the continental championship.

The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial prior to the bout as 10 bells tolled in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in last month.

It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell disappeared, the silence transitioned to a shout of "only one Hatton".

The competition within the ring equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch directly to the chin in the second round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the count of eight.

But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, heavy swelling appearing under his eye as the fighters traded hard punches.

Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the intensity seldom decreased over 12 rounds.

The victor narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but the two athletes were relentless and brave, all the qualities their idol Hatton embodied.