British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing beginning to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a split decision in a close 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker found success, landing some telling single shots in a match where the styles never quite clicked, with constant grabbing disrupting the contest.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but how do champions respond? They win," the victor commented in the arena as he was faced disapproval from the spectators.
The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers thought Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second defeat of his 28-match career.
The Champion Claims Win in Dull Encounter
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent times through management issues and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a cagey early stages.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was competing in only his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to barely take the cleaner periods.
The spectators' acceptance diminished because of regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.
Parker closed well, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor advances, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels Local Rivalry Battle
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent all-Manchester contest to win the European light-heavyweight title.
The stadium fell silent for a deeply poignant memorial prior to the bout as a bell ceremony rang in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised match card in the city since Hatton's death. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a chant of "only one Hatton".
The action during the bout matched the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow squarely on the jaw in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the eight count.
But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged soon, significant bruising developing under his eye as the pair traded hard punches.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor edged the decision with official scores of draw, narrow lead and 115-112, but the two athletes were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their idol Hatton represented.
