British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to his career under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a majority decision in a close ten-round fight at the boxing arena.
But the challenger found success, delivering effective single shots in a contest where the techniques never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the fight.
Two judges had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was met by disapproval from the audience.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts felt the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the win but the contender suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Secures Triumph in Slow Affair
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to be aggressive in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was participating in his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to narrowly win the better rounds.
The spectators' acceptance diminished amid frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Fight
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry fight to win the continental championship.
The stadium grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage before the fight as a bell ceremony rang in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a chant of "only one Hatton".
The action within the ring matched the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch directly to the jaw in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the count of eight.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up early, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the fighters landed hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
The victor barely secured the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, narrow lead and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and brave, exactly what their inspiration the legend stood for.
