UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming beginning to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round contest at the boxing arena.
But Parker found success, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the styles didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing spoiling the contest.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best showing but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor commented in the arena as he was met by negative reactions from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Various analysts felt Parker, 31, deserved the decision but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second loss of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Earns Victory in Dull Affair
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what appears to be a last chance - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers ready to overcommit in a tentative opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was making just his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to barely take the more effective stanzas.
The crowd's patience decreased because of constant clinching, with Parker going down multiple occasions during clinches.
The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Hatton Homage Fuels Local Rivalry Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a excellent all-Manchester fight to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.
The venue grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute prior to the bout as 10 bells tolled in honor of the city's native Hatton, who died at age 46 in September.
It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the last bell ended, the stillness gave way to a chant of "only one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes matched the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the chin in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the red-colored attire of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in rival City blue - was damaged early, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the fighters exchanged hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but the two athletes were persistent and courageous, everything their hero the legend embodied.
