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British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a split decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful individual punches in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing disrupting the contest.

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

"It wasn't my best performance but how do champions respond? They win," the victor stated in the ring as he was greeted with disapproval from the spectators.

The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th career victory.

Various analysts thought Parker, 31, should have been awarded the win but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second setback of his 28-match career.

The Champion Secures Win in Dull Encounter

Buatsi's progress has slowed in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.

Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.

He opened tentatively, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a calculated early stages.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was making just his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to edge the cleaner stanzas.

The crowd's patience diminished because of frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during close exchanges.

The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.

The victor advances, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Battle

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a excellent all-Manchester contest to secure the European light heavyweight belt.

The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional memorial prior to the bout as ten bells sounded in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in September.

It was the first major televised match card in the city since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the quiet transitioned to a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The competition during the bout equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch squarely on the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the count of eight.

But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured early, heavy swelling appearing under his orbital area as the fighters landed punishing blows.

The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over 12 rounds.

The victor edged the decision with official scores of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but both fighters were determined and courageous, all the qualities their inspiration the legend embodied.