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

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a split decision in a competitive ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective clean blows in a fight where the styles never quite clicked, with excessive holding spoiling the action.

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

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

The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.

Some ringside observers believed Parker, 31, deserved the victory but the British boxer experienced the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.

The Champion Secures Triumph in Dull Match

His career development has stalled in recent years through management issues and extended periods of lack of fights.

Once tipped as the future of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.

He opened tentatively, with neither fighter ready to take risks in a tentative initial rounds.

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was making just his second appearance at light heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the cleaner rounds.

The audience's tolerance diminished during constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during grappling.

Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi advances, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Fight

In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester battle to secure the European light heavyweight belt.

The arena became quiet for a profoundly moving tribute before the fight as ten bells tolled in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised match card in the city since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the quiet transitioned to a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting within the ring matched the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch flush on the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his footing on the count of eight.

But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling appearing under his eye as the fighters traded powerful shots.

The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over the full distance.

Arthur edged the result with official scores of 114-114, narrow lead and 115-112, but the two athletes were relentless and courageous, all the qualities their idol Hatton embodied.