British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing start to life under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful individual punches in a match where the approaches failed to mesh, with constant grabbing disrupting the action.
Two judges had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was faced negative reactions from the crowd.
The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, 31, deserved the win but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Earns Win in Dull Match
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent times through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to narrowly win the better stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance diminished during frequent holding, with Parker going down various instances during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor advances, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Motivates Manchester Derby Battle
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry fight to win the European light-heavyweight belt.
The stadium fell silent for a profoundly moving homage before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of the city's native Hatton, who died 46 years old in recently.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound disappeared, the silence became a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout matched the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow directly to the face in the early round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the referee's count.
But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured quickly, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the fighters landed hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, close margin and clearer margin, but the two athletes were persistent and brave, exactly what their hero Hatton embodied.
