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British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to his career under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a close 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.

But Parker found success, connecting with powerful clean blows in a contest where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.

Two judges scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.

"It wasn't my best display but what defines champions? They win," the victor stated in the arena as he was faced disapproval from the spectators.

The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.

Several boxing experts felt Parker, 31, deserved the win but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-fight career.

The Champion Claims Triumph in Uneventful Affair

His career development has slowed in the past few years through management issues and long spells of lack of fights.

Previously predicted as the future of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.

He opened tentatively, with the two boxers prepared to be aggressive in a calculated early stages.

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second fight at light-heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to edge the cleaner periods.

The spectators' acceptance wore thin amid regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during close exchanges.

Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.

The victor advances, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still appears challenging.

Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Contest

In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to capture the continental belt.

The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant homage prior to the bout as ten bells rang in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in recently.

It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the stillness gave way to a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes equaled the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook flush on the face in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his position on the eight count.

But the red-colored attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up early, heavy swelling developing under his face as the duo traded powerful shots.

The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.

The victor barely secured the verdict with scoring tallies of draw, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were persistent and full of heart, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton represented.