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UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing beginning to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a majority decision in a close 10-round contest at the boxing arena.

But Parker had his moments, delivering effective clean blows in a fight where the techniques failed to mesh, with excessive holding marring the fight.

The scoring judges judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my greatest display but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi said in the ring as he was met by boos from the spectators.

The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th pro success.

Several boxing experts believed Parker, 31, should have been awarded the win but the contender experienced the second setback of his 28-bout career.

The Champion Secures Victory in Uneventful Affair

His career development has plateaued in recent years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.

He began cautiously, with both competitors willing to take risks in a cagey initial rounds.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, the underdog had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to narrowly win the better stanzas.

The audience's tolerance decreased because of regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor several times during grappling.

Parker closed well, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Tribute Inspires Local Rivalry Contest

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent all-Manchester battle to secure the continental belt.

The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony rang in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.

It was the premier televised boxing event in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound faded, the silence transitioned to a chant of "there's only one Hatton".

The action during the bout matched the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch flush on the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.

But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged soon, significant bruising forming under his face as the fighters exchanged powerful shots.

The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the intensity hardly diminished over twelve rounds.

The victor edged the decision with judges scorecards of draw, close margin and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and full of heart, exactly what their idol the legend stood for.