British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to his career under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output seemingly secured him a majority decision in a tight 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful single shots in a fight where the techniques failed to mesh, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.
Two judges judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor commented in the arena as he was met by boos from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers felt Parker, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the contender experienced the second loss of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Earns Triumph in Dull Encounter
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent times through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers ready to take risks in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a solid defense to edge the cleaner stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance diminished during constant clinching, with the challenger going down several times during grappling.
Parker closed well, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor progresses, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates Local Rivalry Contest
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific all-Manchester fight to win the continental title.
The venue grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage prior to the bout as ten bells tolled in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised match card in the city since Hatton's passing. As the final chime disappeared, the stillness gave way to a roar of "there's only one Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured early, noticeable damage appearing under his eye as the duo traded hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
The victor barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of draw, 115-113 and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and full of heart, exactly what their inspiration the legend represented.
