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

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round fight at the boxing arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective clean blows in a match where the approaches didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching marring the fight.

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

"It wasn't my best showing but what do champions do? They win," the victor commented in the ring as he was faced negative reactions from the spectators.

The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.

Various analysts thought the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout career.

The Champion Claims Win in Slow Affair

His career development has slowed in recent times through management issues and long spells of inactivity.

Once tipped as the next star of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.

He opened tentatively, with neither fighter prepared to be aggressive in a tentative early stages.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second fight at light-heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective rounds.

The crowd's patience diminished because of frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during clinches.

The underdog closed well, but many rounds were difficult to score. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still looks steep.

Hatton Homage Inspires Local Rivalry Contest

In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to capture the continental title.

The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony sounded in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in September.

It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound disappeared, the silence became a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the second round, standing uncertainly to his position on the count of eight.

But the red-colored attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged early, noticeable damage appearing under his face as the pair landed hard punches.

Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over the full distance.

Arthur barely secured the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but both fighters were persistent and brave, exactly what their idol the legend embodied.