British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive beginning to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful single shots in a contest where the styles never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the contest.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor stated in the arena as he was greeted with negative reactions from the crowd.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts thought the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Win in Uneventful Affair
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent times through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of UK boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to edge the better periods.
The crowd's patience wore thin amid frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Contest
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent all-Manchester battle to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.
The stadium fell silent for a profoundly moving homage prior to the bout as ten bells rang in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound faded, the stillness became a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook directly to the jaw in the second round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged quickly, heavy swelling forming under his orbital area as the duo landed punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.
Arthur narrowly won the decision with scoring tallies of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton stood for.
