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British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming beginning to life under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker had his moments, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the styles failed to mesh, with frequent clinching spoiling the contest.

The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a even score.

"It wasn't my greatest performance but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was faced negative reactions from the crowd.

The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.

Some ringside observers thought Parker, 31, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer experienced the second setback of his 28-match career.

Buatsi Claims Victory in Dull Match

The fighter's advancement has slowed in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.

Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what appears to be a last chance - under fresh management.

He began cautiously, with the two boxers willing to take risks 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 halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to barely take the better stanzas.

The audience's tolerance wore thin during constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during close exchanges.

The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.

The victor advances, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Homage Fuels Manchester Derby Battle

In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry battle to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.

The arena grew hushed for a profoundly moving memorial ahead of the contest as ten bells sounded in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in recently.

It was the premier televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound faded, the stillness became a shout of "there's just one Hatton".

The action within the ring matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook directly to the chin in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the eight count.

But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage appearing under his face as the pair exchanged hard punches.

Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over 12 rounds.

The victor edged the result with official scores of draw, narrow lead and 115-112, but the two athletes were relentless and brave, everything their inspiration Hatton represented.