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British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing debut to his career under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a split decision in a tight ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the styles didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching marring the fight.

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

"It wasn't my greatest showing but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was greeted with negative reactions from the crowd.

The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.

Several boxing experts thought Parker, 31, deserved the victory but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-fight career.

Buatsi Earns Victory in Uneventful Match

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

Once tipped as the future of British boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.

He opened tentatively, with neither fighter ready to take risks in a calculated opening few rounds.

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was making just his second bout at light-heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to barely take the better stanzas.

The crowd's patience diminished amid constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during grappling.

Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Although, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor advances, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still looks steep.

Hatton Memorial Motivates All-Manchester Fight

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding all-Manchester contest to capture the European light-heavyweight championship.

The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional memorial prior to the bout as a bell ceremony sounded in honor of local hero Hatton, who died 46 years old in last month.

It was the first major televised fight night in the city since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound ended, the stillness became a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow squarely on the chin in the second round, rising shakily to his footing on the count of eight.

But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up soon, noticeable damage forming under his face as the pair traded punishing blows.

The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over the full distance.

The victor barely secured the verdict with official scores of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their idol the legend stood for.