British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive debut to life under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a close 10-round contest at the boxing arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective individual punches in a contest where the techniques never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the contest.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best showing but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was faced disapproval from the spectators.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers felt Parker, 31, merited the decision but the contender endured the second defeat of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Secures Win in Uneventful Match
His career development has stalled in recent years through management issues and long spells of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the future of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to take risks in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was competing in only his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to edge the better stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance diminished because of frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor advances, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Homage Fuels All-Manchester Fight
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a terrific local rivalry battle to win the European light heavyweight title.
The stadium became quiet for a extremely emotional memorial prior to the bout as ten bells sounded in memory of local hero Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime ended, the quiet gave way to a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting within the ring matched the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch directly to the chin in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged early, noticeable damage forming under his face as the fighters landed punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the result with official scores of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but both fighters were determined and brave, all the qualities their idol Hatton represented.
