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British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive debut to life under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker found success, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.

Two judges scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my best showing but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi said in the arena as he was faced boos from the audience.

The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.

Some ringside observers believed the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-bout career.

The Champion Claims Victory in Slow Affair

His career development has plateaued in recent years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the future of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.

He started carefully, with the two boxers ready to be aggressive in a tentative early stages.

The challenger, whose single earlier setback 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 bout at light-heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the better stanzas.

The audience's tolerance decreased during frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.

Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.

Hatton Tribute Motivates All-Manchester Battle

In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent local rivalry battle to win the European light-heavyweight belt.

The arena fell silent for a extremely emotional tribute prior to the bout as ten bells sounded in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell ended, the stillness became a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting within the ring reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch flush on the chin in the second round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the count of eight.

But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, heavy swelling developing under his orbital area as the fighters exchanged powerful shots.

The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over the full distance.

Arthur narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and clearer margin, but each competitor were persistent and courageous, all the qualities their hero Hatton stood for.