British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing debut to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round fight at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the styles didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the contest.
Two judges judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was faced disapproval from the audience.
The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts believed Parker, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second defeat of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Earns Triumph in Slow Encounter
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent times through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - possibly in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with the two boxers ready to take risks in a cagey early stages.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was participating in his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to barely take the cleaner periods.
The audience's tolerance wore thin amid frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
The victor moves on, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates All-Manchester Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester battle to capture the European light heavyweight championship.
The stadium fell silent for a profoundly moving homage before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in memory of local hero Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in recently.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the silence became a chant of "there's just one Hatton".
The fighting within the ring matched the feeling. Arthur was floored by a significant blow squarely on the face in the second round, rising shakily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured early, noticeable damage developing under his orbital area as the pair landed powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over the full distance.
Arthur narrowly won the result with official scores of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but the two athletes were determined and brave, exactly what their hero the legend embodied.
