British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive beginning to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a majority decision in a close 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful clean blows in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the contest.
Two judges had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi said in the arena as he was met by boos from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.
Various analysts thought Parker, thirty-one, merited the win but the British boxer experienced the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Earns Triumph in Dull Match
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a cagey early stages.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to edge the cleaner rounds.
The audience's tolerance decreased during constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur beat Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry fight to win the European light-heavyweight title.
The stadium fell silent for a extremely emotional homage prior to the bout as ten bells sounded in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who died 46 years old in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness gave way to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout matched the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook flush on the chin in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, noticeable damage appearing under his face as the duo exchanged hard punches.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
The victor narrowly won the result with official scores of draw, 115-113 and 115-112, but both fighters were persistent and brave, exactly what their hero Hatton embodied.
