British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling single shots in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching marring the contest.
Two judges judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my finest display but what defines champions? They win," the victor commented in the ring as he was met by boos from the audience.
The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers felt Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer endured the second loss of his 28-match career.
The Champion Secures Triumph in Uneventful Match
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter prepared to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance decreased because of regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor advances, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Battle
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester fight to win the continental belt.
The venue became quiet for a profoundly moving memorial prior to the bout as ten bells sounded in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who died 46 years old in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the silence transitioned to a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring reflected the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook 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 came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was injured quickly, significant bruising forming under his face as the pair exchanged powerful shots.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of draw, 115-113 and 115-112, but the two athletes were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton embodied.
