UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming debut to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful clean blows in a match where the approaches didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching disrupting the action.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was faced negative reactions from the audience.
The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers believed the challenger, thirty-one, merited the win but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Claims Triumph in Slow Encounter
His career development has stalled in recent times through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to take risks in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was making just his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to edge the cleaner stanzas.
The audience's tolerance diminished amid regular grabbing, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels Local Rivalry Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent local rivalry contest to secure the European light-heavyweight title.
The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial ahead of the contest as 10 bells rang in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet gave way to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".
The action inside the ropes equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the chin in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured early, noticeable damage developing under his orbital area as the duo exchanged hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.
Arthur narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of even score, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, exactly what their hero Hatton represented.
