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UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing beginning to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a majority decision in a tight ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful individual punches in a contest where the techniques didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching marring the fight.

The officials scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.

"It wasn't my greatest performance but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor stated in the arena as he was faced negative reactions from the crowd.

The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th career victory.

Some ringside observers believed the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer endured the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.

The Champion Claims Win in Uneventful Encounter

His career development has plateaued in the past few years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the future of UK boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.

He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to overcommit in a cagey opening few rounds.

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was making just his second fight at light-heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to edge the more effective stanzas.

The crowd's patience wore thin because of regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during grappling.

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

Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.

Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Battle

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry fight to secure the European light heavyweight championship.

The venue became quiet for a extremely emotional memorial prior to the bout as a bell ceremony rang in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in recently.

It was the first major televised match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound faded, the quiet transitioned to a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting during the bout equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch flush on the jaw in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the eight count.

But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured quickly, significant bruising developing under his face as the pair landed punishing blows.

Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over twelve rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the result with scoring tallies of draw, close margin and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and full of heart, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton embodied.