British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming beginning to his career under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful individual punches in a fight where the techniques failed to mesh, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.
The officials judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best display but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor said in the ring as he was greeted with boos from the crowd.
The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, thirty-one, merited the win but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Secures Win in Slow Match
His career development has plateaued in recent times through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers ready to be aggressive in a tentative opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to edge the more effective periods.
The crowd's patience decreased during regular grabbing, with Parker going down several times during grappling.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates Local Rivalry Fight
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific local rivalry battle to secure the continental championship.
The arena grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage before the fight as ten bells tolled in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who died 46 years old in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the city since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the stillness transitioned to a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes matched the emotion. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch flush on the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his position on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured soon, significant bruising developing under his face as the pair landed punishing blows.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the verdict with scoring tallies of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but the two athletes were determined and courageous, all the qualities their inspiration the legend stood for.
