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

The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful single shots in a contest where the approaches failed to mesh, with constant grabbing disrupting the action.

Two judges judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a 95-95.

"It wasn't my greatest display but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor commented in the ring as he was met by boos from the crowd.

The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.

Some ringside observers thought the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the contender suffered the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.

Buatsi Earns Win in Dull Affair

The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.

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

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was participating in his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a solid defense to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.

The spectators' acceptance wore thin because of regular grabbing, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during clinches.

Parker closed well, but many rounds were difficult to score. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.

The victor moves on, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels Local Rivalry Fight

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding all-Manchester fight to secure the European light heavyweight championship.

The venue fell silent for a extremely emotional tribute prior to the bout as 10 bells rang in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.

It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness became a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow directly to the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his footing on the referee's count.

But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged soon, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the fighters traded punishing blows.

The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over the full distance.

The victor edged the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were determined and courageous, exactly what their idol Hatton represented.