UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive beginning to life under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a majority decision in a tight ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective clean blows in a fight where the techniques didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching disrupting the contest.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was met by boos from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts believed the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the win but the contender suffered the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Claims Win in Uneventful Affair
His career development has plateaued in recent years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with the two boxers ready to be aggressive in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was making just his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the better stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance diminished amid constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during grappling.
Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just a single round.
The victor progresses, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels Local Rivalry Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent all-Manchester battle to win the European light heavyweight title.
The venue became quiet for a profoundly moving homage prior to the bout as ten bells tolled in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who died aged 46 in September.
It was the premier televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the quiet transitioned to a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The action during the bout matched the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a significant blow directly to the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was damaged quickly, noticeable damage developing under his face as the duo traded powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the result with official scores of even score, narrow lead and wider gap, but both fighters were persistent and brave, exactly what their inspiration Hatton embodied.
