British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive beginning to his career under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level likely gained him a split decision in a tight ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the approaches didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching disrupting the action.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was faced disapproval from the spectators.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, thirty-one, merited the win but the British boxer endured the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Victory in Dull Encounter
His career development has stalled in recent years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to take risks in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was making just his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to edge the better periods.
The audience's tolerance diminished because of frequent holding, with Parker going down several times during clinches.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were hard to judge. However, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Fight
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding all-Manchester contest to secure the European light heavyweight belt.
The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant memorial prior to the bout as a bell ceremony rang in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in last month.
It was the first major televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the stillness became a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting during the bout matched the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook squarely on the chin in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the eight count.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged quickly, significant bruising developing under his face as the pair traded hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of draw, narrow lead and wider gap, but each competitor were relentless and courageous, everything their inspiration Hatton represented.
