British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a split decision in a tight 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective individual punches in a contest where the techniques didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing marring the contest.
Two judges had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was faced boos from the audience.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers thought Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer endured the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Win in Uneventful Match
His career development has slowed in recent times through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of British boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to be aggressive in a tentative opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was making just his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to edge the better rounds.
The spectators' acceptance diminished during regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during close exchanges.
The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Hatton Tribute Motivates Local Rivalry Fight
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a terrific all-Manchester battle to secure the continental belt.
The venue fell silent for a extremely emotional memorial prior to the bout as ten bells tolled in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who died 46 years old in recently.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet gave way to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action during the bout matched the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow squarely on the face in the initial stage, rising shakily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was injured quickly, heavy swelling appearing under his eye as the fighters exchanged powerful shots.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the action rarely dropped over the full distance.
Arthur narrowly won the result with official scores of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but both fighters were persistent and full of heart, all the qualities their hero Hatton represented.
