British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive debut to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a split decision in a tight 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful individual punches in a match where the styles didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing spoiling the fight.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was greeted with negative reactions from the audience.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.
Various analysts thought Parker, 31, deserved the decision but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-match career.
The Champion Claims Win in Uneventful Affair
Buatsi's progress has slowed in the past few years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what appears to be a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with neither fighter willing to take risks in a calculated initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.
The audience's tolerance wore thin because of frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during grappling.
Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just a single round.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Hatton Memorial Inspires Local Rivalry Battle
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester battle to win the European light heavyweight belt.
The stadium grew hushed for a profoundly moving memorial prior to the bout as ten bells tolled in memory of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound faded, the silence transitioned to a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action inside the ropes reflected the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch squarely on the chin in the initial stage, rising shakily to his position on the count of eight.
But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged early, noticeable damage forming under his face as the duo traded punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the verdict with official scores of draw, 115-113 and clearer margin, but both fighters were persistent and full of heart, exactly what their hero Hatton stood for.
