British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing start to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a split decision in a tight 10-round contest at the boxing arena.
But the challenger found success, delivering effective single shots in a match where the styles failed to mesh, with frequent clinching marring the action.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was met by disapproval from the crowd.
The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.
Various analysts believed the challenger, 31, merited the win but the contender experienced the second setback of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Secures Triumph in Dull Encounter
His career development has plateaued in the past few years through promotional disputes and considerable time of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the future of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a tentative early stages.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to edge the better rounds.
The audience's tolerance decreased during frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.
Parker closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Hatton Homage Motivates Local Rivalry Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester fight to capture the European light-heavyweight championship.
The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional homage ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in honor of the city's native Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised match card in the location since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound ended, the stillness gave way to a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout matched the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch flush on the face in the early round, rising shakily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up early, heavy swelling appearing under his face as the pair exchanged hard punches.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over the full distance.
The victor narrowly won the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their inspiration the legend represented.
