UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive beginning to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the techniques didn't complement each other, with excessive holding disrupting the action.
The officials had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest display but how do champions respond? They win," the victor stated in the ringside as he was greeted with disapproval from the spectators.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers felt Parker, 31, deserved the decision but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Claims Triumph in Dull Match
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent times through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to take risks in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was making just his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to narrowly win the more effective rounds.
The crowd's patience wore thin during constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.
Parker closed well, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
The victor moves on, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates Local Rivalry Battle
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific local rivalry fight to win the continental belt.
The stadium became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial prior to the bout as ten bells rang in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the final chime disappeared, the silence became a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes matched the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow directly to the face in the initial stage, rising shakily to his position on the eight count.
But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, noticeable damage appearing under his orbital area as the pair traded hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over the full distance.
Arthur narrowly won the result with official scores of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but each competitor were relentless and full of heart, exactly what their inspiration the legend embodied.
