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

The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective single shots in a contest where the techniques didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching spoiling the fight.

The officials had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.

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

The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.

Several boxing experts felt the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer experienced the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.

The Champion Earns Victory in Uneventful Match

Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent times through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the future of UK boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.

He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to overcommit in a cagey early stages.

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second appearance at light heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to barely take the better periods.

The spectators' acceptance decreased amid frequent holding, with Parker going down multiple occasions during clinches.

Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires All-Manchester Fight

In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a outstanding local rivalry contest to capture the European light heavyweight championship.

The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as ten bells rang in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.

It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness became a chant of "there's just one Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes matched the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch squarely on the jaw in the second round, standing uncertainly to his position on the eight count.

But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, noticeable damage appearing under his orbital area as the duo traded hard punches.

Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the intensity hardly diminished over twelve rounds.

The victor edged the result with scoring tallies of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but the two athletes were determined and courageous, exactly what their hero the legend represented.