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British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming start to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.

But Parker had his moments, delivering effective single shots in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the action.

The scoring judges had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my best showing but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor commented in the ring as he was met by boos from the crowd.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th career victory.

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

The Champion Secures Win in Dull Encounter

The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent times through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the future of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under recent support.

He started carefully, with neither fighter willing to take risks in a calculated initial rounds.

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective rounds.

The audience's tolerance diminished during constant clinching, with Parker going down various instances during clinches.

The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.

The victor advances, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels All-Manchester Contest

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to secure the continental title.

The arena fell silent for a profoundly moving tribute before the fight as ten bells sounded in honor of the city's native Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised match card in the city since Hatton's passing. As the final chime disappeared, the quiet transitioned to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".

The competition during the bout matched the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook flush on the jaw in the initial stage, rising shakily to his position on the count of eight.

But the red-colored attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged quickly, significant bruising developing under his face as the pair landed hard punches.

The challenger, 27, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over twelve rounds.

Arthur barely secured the decision with official scores of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but each competitor were relentless and brave, everything their inspiration Hatton represented.