British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a split decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But Parker found success, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching marring the fight.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my best performance but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was greeted with disapproval from the crowd.
The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers believed Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the contender endured the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Victory in Slow Affair
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent times through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with the two boxers prepared to be aggressive in a tentative opening few rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was competing in only his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective rounds.
The crowd's patience decreased because of regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during grappling.
The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor progresses, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Hatton Tribute Inspires All-Manchester Contest
In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester battle to win the European light heavyweight belt.
The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised fight night in the city since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound disappeared, the silence transitioned to a chant of "only one Hatton".
The fighting within the ring equaled the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was injured early, heavy swelling forming under his face as the duo exchanged hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the intensity hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor barely secured the result with judges scorecards of draw, 115-113 and wider gap, but the two athletes were determined and brave, everything their idol Hatton represented.
