British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing beginning to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a close 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective single shots in a fight where the styles didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the action.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor stated in the ring as he was faced boos from the crowd.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts believed the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Secures Triumph in Uneventful Match
His career development has plateaued in recent years through promotional disputes and long spells of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - possibly in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to barely take the cleaner rounds.
The crowd's patience diminished because of constant clinching, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog closed well, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Hatton Tribute Inspires Manchester Derby Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur beat Rea by split-decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester battle to win the continental title.
The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant memorial prior to the bout as ten bells tolled in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised fight night in the location since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound ended, the silence gave way to a shout of "only one Hatton".
The action during the bout equaled the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook squarely on the jaw in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his feet on the count of eight.
But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured quickly, significant bruising forming under his face as the fighters exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
The victor barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of draw, close margin and clearer margin, but each competitor were persistent and full of heart, all the qualities their idol Hatton embodied.
