British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing start to his career under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a split decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the boxing arena.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful individual punches in a contest where the approaches never quite clicked, with constant grabbing disrupting the action.
The officials had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest display but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor said in the ring as he was met by disapproval from the audience.
The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th career victory.
Various analysts thought the challenger, thirty-one, merited the decision but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Victory in Uneventful Affair
His career development has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what appears to be a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to be aggressive in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to barely take the cleaner stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance decreased during frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates Local Rivalry Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific all-Manchester fight to secure the European light heavyweight championship.
The arena fell silent for a profoundly moving tribute ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of local hero Hatton, who died at age 46 in September.
It was the first major televised fight night in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the silence gave way to a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting during the bout reflected the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a significant blow directly to the chin in the initial stage, rising shakily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, heavy swelling forming under his face as the duo traded hard punches.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the verdict with official scores of 114-114, narrow lead and 115-112, but the two athletes were determined and courageous, exactly what their idol Hatton embodied.
