British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive start to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round fight at the boxing arena.
But Parker found success, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the styles never quite clicked, with excessive holding marring the fight.
The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what defines champions? They win," the victor commented in the ring as he was met by disapproval from the spectators.
The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers believed Parker, 31, merited the victory but the contender suffered the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Win in Uneventful Encounter
Buatsi's progress has slowed in the past few years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what appears to be a last chance - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with the two boxers prepared to overcommit in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.
The crowd's patience decreased amid constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during clinches.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels All-Manchester Contest
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester battle to win the European light-heavyweight belt.
The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute prior to the bout as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of the city's native Hatton, who died 46 years old in last month.
It was the premier televised match card in the city since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound ended, the quiet transitioned to a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes equaled the emotion. Arthur was floored by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the eight count.
But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured soon, heavy swelling forming under his eye as the pair exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
Arthur barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, narrow lead and 115-112, but each competitor were determined and courageous, exactly what their inspiration Hatton stood for.
