British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a majority decision in a tight ten-round fight at the boxing arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the styles never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the contest.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my best display but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was faced negative reactions from the spectators.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts felt Parker, thirty-one, deserved the win but the contender suffered the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Win in Uneventful Match
His career development has stalled in the past few years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what seems like a last chance - under recent support.
He started carefully, with the two boxers prepared to be aggressive in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective rounds.
The audience's tolerance decreased because of regular grabbing, with Parker going down several times during grappling.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor advances, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Hatton Homage Fuels All-Manchester Fight
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester fight to win the European light-heavyweight belt.
The stadium became quiet for a profoundly moving memorial before the fight as 10 bells tolled in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised fight night in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound disappeared, the silence transitioned to a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch squarely on the jaw in the second round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up early, heavy swelling developing under his orbital area as the duo traded powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over the full distance.
Arthur edged the decision with judges scorecards of draw, 115-113 and clearer margin, but each competitor were relentless and courageous, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton represented.
