British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive beginning to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round fight at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful individual punches in a match where the techniques failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the contest.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest display but how do champions respond? They win," the victor said in the ring as he was met by negative reactions from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers thought the challenger, 31, deserved the decision but the contender endured the second defeat of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Secures Triumph in Uneventful Encounter
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent times through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a last chance - under recent support.
He started carefully, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a tentative opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand in the contest, was participating in his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to edge the better periods.
The audience's tolerance diminished during constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor several times during clinches.
Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor advances, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates Local Rivalry Battle
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester fight to secure the European light heavyweight championship.
The stadium grew hushed for a profoundly moving tribute ahead of the contest as 10 bells sounded in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in September.
It was the premier televised fight night in the location since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound faded, the stillness became a roar of "there's only one Hatton".
The action inside the ropes equaled the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow directly to the jaw in the initial stage, rising shakily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured soon, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the fighters traded punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
The victor narrowly won the verdict with official scores of even score, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were persistent and brave, all the qualities their inspiration the legend stood for.
