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UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming start to his career under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a majority decision in a close 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling individual punches in a match where the techniques didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing marring the fight.

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

"It wasn't my finest showing but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor commented in the ringside as he was met by negative reactions from the audience.

The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.

Several boxing experts thought Parker, 31, deserved the win but the British boxer suffered the second loss of his 28-bout career.

Buatsi Earns Win in Slow Encounter

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

Once tipped as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.

He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was competing in only his second fight at light-heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to edge the better rounds.

The audience's tolerance decreased during regular grabbing, with Parker going down multiple occasions during clinches.

The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels All-Manchester Contest

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

The arena fell silent for a profoundly moving tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony rang in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised fight night in the city since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet transitioned to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes matched the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch directly to the chin in the early round, rising shakily to his position on the eight count.

But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged early, significant bruising developing under his face as the fighters landed punishing blows.

The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.

Arthur edged the verdict with official scores of draw, narrow lead and 115-112, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their idol Hatton represented.