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UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to his career under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful individual punches in a fight where the approaches failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the action.

The officials judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95.

"It wasn't my finest showing but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was faced boos from the audience.

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

Several boxing experts felt Parker, 31, merited the victory but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.

The Champion Claims Victory in Slow Affair

The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent years through management issues and extended periods of lack of fights.

Once tipped as the future of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.

He started carefully, with both competitors willing to overcommit in a cagey opening few rounds.

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

By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to barely take the cleaner periods.

The crowd's patience decreased during regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during grappling.

Parker closed well, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor moves on, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still looks steep.

Hatton Tribute Fuels Manchester Derby Fight

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester contest to capture the continental title.

The venue became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial prior to the bout as ten bells rang in memory of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in last month.

It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the city since Hatton's death. As the final chime ended, the silence became a shout of "there's just one Hatton".

The fighting within the ring matched the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch flush on the face in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the referee's count.

But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured early, heavy swelling developing under his face as the pair exchanged hard punches.

Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over twelve rounds.

The victor narrowly won the decision with scoring tallies of even score, close margin and wider gap, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, everything their inspiration Hatton stood for.