British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive beginning to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, landing some telling single shots in a fight where the styles didn't complement each other, with excessive holding marring the contest.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my best performance but what defines champions? They win," the victor stated in the arena as he was faced boos from the spectators.
The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.
Various analysts thought Parker, thirty-one, merited the decision but the contender endured the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Secures Victory in Slow Encounter
His career development has stalled in recent years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with neither fighter prepared to be aggressive in a cagey early stages.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand during the bout, was participating in his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective rounds.
The crowd's patience wore thin during regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during close exchanges.
The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels Local Rivalry Fight
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester fight to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.
The stadium became quiet for a profoundly moving tribute before the fight as ten bells sounded in honor of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in September.
It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the final chime ended, the stillness gave way to a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The action during the bout matched the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch squarely on the chin in the second round, rising shakily to his footing on the eight count.
But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, significant bruising appearing under his orbital area as the fighters landed powerful shots.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
Arthur edged the verdict with official scores of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but both fighters were persistent and full of heart, exactly what their idol the legend represented.
