British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a close 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the approaches never quite clicked, with excessive holding spoiling the fight.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest display but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was faced negative reactions from the spectators.
The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers thought Parker, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the contender experienced the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Earns Triumph in Slow Affair
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent years through management issues and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of British boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with neither fighter ready to be aggressive in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective rounds.
The audience's tolerance decreased because of frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during clinches.
Parker closed well, but several stanzas were difficult to score. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates Local Rivalry Battle
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a excellent all-Manchester contest to secure the European light heavyweight championship.
The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute before the fight as ten bells rang in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in recently.
It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".
The action during the bout reflected the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow directly to the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured soon, heavy swelling developing under his face as the fighters landed punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the verdict with judges scorecards of draw, 115-113 and clearer margin, but each competitor were determined and courageous, all the qualities their hero the legend embodied.
