British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming debut to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round fight at the boxing arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling single shots in a match where the approaches didn't complement each other, with excessive holding disrupting the action.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest display but how do champions respond? They win," the victor commented in the arena as he was faced negative reactions from the spectators.
The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts believed the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the win but the British boxer experienced the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Victory in Uneventful Affair
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent years through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter ready to be aggressive in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to edge the more effective rounds.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin during frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Hatton Tribute Motivates Manchester Derby Battle
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester battle to win the continental title.
The venue became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial ahead of the contest as 10 bells sounded in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in September.
It was the first major televised match card in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime ended, the quiet became a roar of "there's only one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes reflected the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow squarely on the chin in the second round, rising shakily to his footing on the eight count.
But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, significant bruising developing under his face as the fighters landed hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur barely secured the verdict with official scores of even score, narrow lead and clearer margin, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, everything their idol Hatton represented.
