British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a majority decision in a close 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective clean blows in a fight where the approaches never quite clicked, with constant grabbing disrupting the action.
The officials judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my best showing but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor stated in the ringside as he was greeted with negative reactions from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers felt Parker, thirty-one, merited the decision but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Claims Win in Dull Match
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter ready to take risks in a cagey early stages.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder 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 stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to narrowly win the better rounds.
The audience's tolerance wore thin during regular grabbing, with Parker going down several times during close exchanges.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Contest
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent all-Manchester fight to win the European light-heavyweight belt.
The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as ten bells rang in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the city since Hatton's death. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet transitioned to a shout of "only one Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook squarely on the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the eight count.
But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged soon, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the duo landed powerful shots.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor barely secured the decision with scoring tallies of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and courageous, everything their idol Hatton stood for.
