British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to life under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round bout at the boxing arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful individual punches in a fight where the approaches didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing spoiling the fight.
The officials scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest display but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor commented in the arena as he was greeted with disapproval from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts felt Parker, 31, merited the win but the contender endured the second setback of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Secures Win in Uneventful Encounter
His career development has slowed in recent times through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of UK boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter ready to overcommit in a calculated early stages.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was competing in only his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to edge the more effective rounds.
The crowd's patience decreased amid regular grabbing, with the challenger going down several times during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but many rounds were hard to judge. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates Manchester Derby Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding local rivalry battle to capture the European light heavyweight championship.
The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional homage ahead of the contest as 10 bells sounded in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in September.
It was the premier televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the final chime ended, the silence became a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting during the bout reflected the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow squarely on the jaw in the second round, rising shakily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged early, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the fighters landed powerful shots.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the pace rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, 115-113 and 115-112, but each competitor were relentless and brave, everything their inspiration Hatton stood for.
