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British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing debut to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round bout at the boxing arena.

But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the approaches failed to mesh, with excessive holding spoiling the fight.

The officials judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my greatest display but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor commented in the arena as he was greeted with boos from the crowd.

The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.

Various analysts believed the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second setback of his 28-fight career.

The Champion Earns Triumph in Dull Affair

Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent times through promotional disputes and considerable time of lack of fights.

Previously predicted as the future of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what appears to be a last chance - under fresh management.

He began cautiously, with neither fighter ready to be aggressive in a tentative early stages.

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second fight at light heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to barely take the cleaner periods.

The crowd's patience wore thin amid regular grabbing, with the challenger going down various instances during grappling.

Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.

The victor progresses, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still appears challenging.

Ricky Hatton Tribute Inspires All-Manchester Battle

In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding local rivalry contest to secure the European light heavyweight championship.

The stadium grew hushed for a profoundly moving memorial ahead of the contest as 10 bells rang in memory of local hero Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.

It was the first major televised match card in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound faded, the quiet gave way to a chant of "only one Hatton".

The fighting during the bout matched the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch directly to the jaw in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the eight count.

But the Manchester United-red shorts of the fighter soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged early, significant bruising appearing under his orbital area as the pair exchanged powerful shots.

Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.

Arthur narrowly won the decision with official scores of even score, close margin and 115-112, but the two athletes were determined and courageous, everything their inspiration Hatton stood for.