British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing start to his career under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level likely gained him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with frequent clinching marring the contest.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my best performance but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor commented in the ringside as he was faced negative reactions from the spectators.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th pro success.
Various analysts believed Parker, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the contender suffered the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Earns Win in Slow Affair
His career development has stalled in recent years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what seems like a last chance - under recent support.
He started carefully, with the two boxers prepared to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was participating in his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective rounds.
The spectators' acceptance diminished amid regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Hatton Tribute Motivates All-Manchester Fight
In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific all-Manchester battle to win the European light-heavyweight title.
The venue became quiet for a profoundly moving memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of local hero Hatton, who died aged 46 in September.
It was the first major televised match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the quiet gave way to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action during the bout reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook directly to the chin in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, noticeable damage developing under his orbital area as the duo traded powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the pace rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
Arthur barely secured the verdict with official scores of 114-114, close margin and clearer margin, but both fighters were determined and brave, all the qualities their hero the legend stood for.
