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UK light-heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing beginning to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a split decision in a tight 10-round bout at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger found success, landing some telling clean blows in a fight where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the contest.

Two judges had it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my finest showing but what defines champions? They win," the victor stated in the ringside as he was faced boos from the crowd.

The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th career victory.

Various analysts thought Parker, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second setback of his 28-match career.

Buatsi Earns Win in Uneventful Match

The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what appears to be a last chance - under new promotional backing.

He began cautiously, with the two boxers ready to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.

The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was making just his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the better periods.

The spectators' acceptance decreased because of regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during close exchanges.

Parker closed well, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.

The victor progresses, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still looks steep.

Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Contest

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a terrific local rivalry contest to capture the continental belt.

The arena fell silent for a extremely emotional memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of local hero Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in recently.

It was the first major televised boxing event in the city since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the stillness became a shout of "there's only one Hatton".

The fighting within the ring equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his footing on the count of eight.

But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged early, noticeable damage appearing under his orbital area as the duo landed hard punches.

Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over twelve rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the result with official scores of 114-114, narrow lead and wider gap, but the two athletes were determined and full of heart, everything their inspiration Hatton embodied.