British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming debut to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the boxing arena.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful individual punches in a contest where the styles failed to mesh, with excessive holding spoiling the fight.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest display but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was faced boos from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.
Various analysts felt Parker, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the contender suffered the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Victory in Slow Affair
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent times through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to edge the cleaner periods.
The audience's tolerance wore thin amid frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during clinches.
Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates Local Rivalry Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific local rivalry battle to secure the European light heavyweight championship.
The venue fell silent for a extremely emotional memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the final chime ended, the quiet gave way to a roar of "only one Hatton".
The action inside the ropes matched the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow flush on the chin in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged early, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the fighters traded powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
Arthur barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, 115-113 and wider gap, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, exactly what their idol the legend represented.
