British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming debut to his career under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger had his moments, connecting with powerful individual punches in a match where the approaches didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing disrupting the action.
The officials had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi said in the arena as he was met by negative reactions from the audience.
The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th career victory.
Various analysts thought the challenger, thirty-one, merited the victory but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Claims Win in Uneventful Affair
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - maybe in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was making just his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective rounds.
The crowd's patience wore thin amid constant clinching, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Hatton Tribute Fuels Local Rivalry Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a terrific all-Manchester fight to secure the European light heavyweight championship.
The stadium became quiet for a extremely emotional homage prior to the bout as 10 bells sounded in memory of the city's native Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "only one Hatton".
The competition during the bout matched the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch squarely on the face in the second round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the count of eight.
But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up early, noticeable damage forming under his orbital area as the duo landed powerful shots.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
The victor barely secured the result with scoring tallies of even score, narrow lead and clearer margin, but each competitor were relentless and courageous, exactly what their idol Hatton stood for.
