UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive beginning to his career under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective clean blows in a fight where the techniques didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching disrupting the action.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest showing but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor commented in the ringside as he was met by boos from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers felt the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Win in Dull Encounter
Buatsi's progress has slowed in the past few years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to be aggressive in a cagey early stages.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent 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, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to edge the better periods.
The spectators' acceptance decreased amid regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.
The venue grew hushed for a deeply poignant tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound ended, the quiet transitioned to a shout of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes matched the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook squarely on the jaw in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his feet on the count of eight.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged quickly, noticeable damage forming under his face as the pair exchanged punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the result with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and brave, exactly what their inspiration Hatton embodied.
