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

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a split decision in a close 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.

But Parker found success, delivering effective single shots in a contest where the styles didn't complement each other, with excessive holding disrupting the action.

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

"It wasn't my finest showing but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor commented in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the audience.

The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.

Some ringside observers believed the challenger, 31, deserved the victory but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second setback of his 28-match career.

Buatsi Earns Win in Dull Match

His career development has stalled in recent years through management issues and long spells of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the future of UK boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.

He started carefully, with the two boxers ready to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was participating in his second appearance at the higher weight class.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to narrowly win the more effective periods.

The crowd's patience diminished because of constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during grappling.

The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Although, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.

The victor progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.

Hatton Tribute Motivates All-Manchester Battle

In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester contest to win the continental belt.

The arena became quiet for a extremely emotional tribute prior to the bout as 10 bells tolled in memory of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell ended, the silence transitioned to a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook squarely on the face in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the referee's count.

But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, significant bruising forming under his eye as the fighters traded hard punches.

The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over 12 rounds.

Arthur barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of draw, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were persistent and courageous, exactly what their idol the legend stood for.