British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing debut to life under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker found success, connecting with powerful single shots in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with excessive holding spoiling the contest.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor commented in the arena as he was faced boos from the crowd.
The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Various analysts believed the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the contender suffered the second loss of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Secures Victory in Uneventful Encounter
Buatsi's progress has stalled in the past few years through contract problems and extended periods of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the future of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to overcommit in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to edge the cleaner stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance decreased amid frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during close exchanges.
The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor progresses, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Battle
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent local rivalry battle to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.
The arena became quiet for a extremely emotional homage ahead of the contest as 10 bells sounded in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who died 46 years old in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound disappeared, the stillness became a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting within the ring equaled the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the chin in the second round, rising shakily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was damaged early, heavy swelling appearing under his face as the pair exchanged hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the pace rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
Arthur edged the decision with scoring tallies of draw, 115-113 and wider gap, but each competitor were determined and courageous, all the qualities their hero Hatton stood for.
