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UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing debut to life under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a split decision in a close ten-round bout at the boxing arena.

But Parker had his moments, delivering effective single shots in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the contest.

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

"It wasn't my best showing but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was greeted with boos from the audience.

The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th career victory.

Various analysts thought Parker, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the contender experienced the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.

Buatsi Secures Victory in Slow Affair

The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent years through management issues and extended periods of lack of fights.

Earlier forecast as the future of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.

He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to be aggressive in a calculated initial rounds.

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand in the contest, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the cleaner rounds.

The audience's tolerance diminished during frequent holding, with the challenger going down various instances during clinches.

The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Although, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still appears challenging.

Hatton Memorial Fuels All-Manchester Fight

In the co-main event, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry fight to capture the European light heavyweight championship.

The arena fell silent for a extremely emotional memorial ahead of the contest as 10 bells rang in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in recently.

It was the premier televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the silence gave way to a shout of "only one Hatton".

The fighting during the bout matched the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch directly to the face in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his footing on the count of eight.

But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up early, significant bruising forming under his eye as the fighters exchanged hard punches.

The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.

The victor edged the verdict with scoring tallies of even score, narrow lead and clearer margin, but the two athletes were relentless and brave, everything their idol Hatton stood for.