British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a majority decision in a tight ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling single shots in a fight where the approaches failed to mesh, with excessive holding disrupting the action.
Two judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best showing but what do champions do? They win," the victor said in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the crowd.
The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers felt Parker, thirty-one, merited the victory but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Victory in Uneventful Encounter
Buatsi's progress has stalled in the past few years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of British boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers prepared to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to edge the cleaner stanzas.
The crowd's patience decreased amid frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.
Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Inspires Local Rivalry Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a outstanding all-Manchester contest to secure the continental title.
The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as 10 bells sounded in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in last month.
It was the first major televised match card in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the quiet became a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes matched the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a significant blow flush on the face in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, heavy swelling appearing under his orbital area as the duo exchanged punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
The victor narrowly won the verdict with judges scorecards of even score, close margin and 115-112, but the two athletes were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their idol the legend embodied.
