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British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a tight ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger found success, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching disrupting the action.

The officials judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my greatest performance but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was greeted with disapproval from the crowd.

The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th pro success.

Various analysts felt the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer endured the second setback of his 28-fight career.

Buatsi Secures Victory in Slow Affair

His career development has plateaued in recent years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.

He started carefully, with the two boxers ready to take risks in a calculated opening few rounds.

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was participating in his second appearance at light heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to barely take the cleaner periods.

The crowd's patience diminished amid regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during grappling.

The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Contest

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to win the continental championship.

The arena grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage prior to the bout as ten bells sounded in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in September.

It was the first major televised fight night in the city since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the quiet transitioned to a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The action during the bout reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch directly to the face in the second round, rising shakily to his position on the eight count.

But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged early, noticeable damage forming under his orbital area as the fighters landed hard punches.

The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the pace rarely dropped over the full distance.

Arthur narrowly won the decision with official scores of even score, close margin and wider gap, but each competitor were relentless and courageous, exactly what their idol the legend embodied.