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

The Olympic medal winner's punch output seemingly secured him a majority decision in a close ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the approaches failed to mesh, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.

The scoring judges scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a even score.

"It wasn't my greatest display but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was faced disapproval from the spectators.

The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.

Some ringside observers thought the challenger, 31, merited the victory but the British boxer suffered the second loss of his 28-fight career.

Buatsi Secures Victory in Dull Affair

Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.

He started carefully, with neither fighter willing to overcommit in a tentative opening few rounds.

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was competing in only his second appearance at the higher weight class.

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the better rounds.

The spectators' acceptance wore thin during constant clinching, with Parker going down multiple occasions during close exchanges.

The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.

Hatton Tribute Motivates All-Manchester Fight

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding all-Manchester fight to win the European light-heavyweight belt.

The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving homage prior to the bout as ten bells sounded in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who died at age 46 in last month.

It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime disappeared, the stillness became a chant of "there's just one Hatton".

The fighting during the bout reflected the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch flush on the chin in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the count of eight.

But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, heavy swelling forming under his face as the duo exchanged powerful shots.

The challenger, 27, landed power punches but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over twelve rounds.

The victor narrowly won the decision with scoring tallies of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but the two athletes were persistent and brave, all the qualities their idol Hatton stood for.