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British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming debut to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round bout at the Manchester venue.

But Parker found success, connecting with powerful clean blows in a contest where the techniques failed to mesh, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.

The officials had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.

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

The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.

Some ringside observers believed Parker, 31, deserved the win but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.

The Champion Earns Win in Uneventful Match

Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - maybe in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.

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

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was making just his second fight at the higher weight class.

By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to edge the more effective periods.

The crowd's patience wore thin because of frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during grappling.

Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates All-Manchester Battle

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding local rivalry fight to capture the European light heavyweight championship.

The stadium fell silent for a deeply poignant homage ahead of the contest as ten bells sounded in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the final chime faded, the silence transitioned to a chant of "there's just one Hatton".

The fighting during the bout equaled the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch directly to the jaw in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his footing on the referee's count.

But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, noticeable damage developing under his eye as the pair exchanged hard punches.

The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over 12 rounds.

Arthur barely secured the result with judges scorecards of 114-114, 115-113 and 115-112, but both fighters were determined and brave, exactly what their idol Hatton embodied.