British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a tight ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing marring the action.
Two judges scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was faced negative reactions from the audience.
The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts believed Parker, 31, deserved the victory but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Win in Uneventful Match
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - maybe in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors ready to take risks in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was competing in only his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to barely take the better periods.
The crowd's patience diminished amid constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during clinches.
Parker closed well, but several stanzas were difficult to score. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates Local Rivalry Contest
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific local rivalry contest to secure the European light-heavyweight title.
The venue became quiet for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in memory of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the city since Hatton's death. As the final chime disappeared, the quiet gave way to a roar of "there's only one Hatton".
The action during the bout equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the face in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the referee's count.
But the red-colored attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, heavy swelling appearing under his face as the pair landed hard punches.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur edged the result with judges scorecards of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and full of heart, everything their inspiration the legend embodied.
