British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming debut to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a split decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the boxing arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective clean blows in a fight where the techniques never quite clicked, with excessive holding marring the contest.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor said in the arena as he was greeted with boos from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts believed Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Earns Triumph in Slow Encounter
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent times through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to realize his potential - possibly in what seems like a last chance - under recent support.
He started carefully, with neither fighter ready to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to edge the more effective stanzas.
The crowd's patience decreased during regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during clinches.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
The victor advances, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a excellent all-Manchester fight to secure the continental title.
The stadium fell silent for a deeply poignant homage ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised match card in the location since Hatton's passing. As the final chime faded, the silence transitioned to a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting during the bout equaled the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow flush on the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured early, noticeable damage forming under his orbital area as the duo traded powerful shots.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur edged the decision with scoring tallies of 114-114, narrow lead and clearer margin, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, everything their idol Hatton embodied.
