British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive debut to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the boxing arena.
But Parker found success, delivering effective individual punches in a match where the approaches didn't complement each other, with excessive holding disrupting the fight.
The officials judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the spectators.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts felt the challenger, thirty-one, merited the victory but the contender endured the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Triumph in Slow Affair
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent times through management issues and considerable time 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 last chance - under recent support.
He started carefully, with both competitors ready to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was participating in his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to edge the more effective stanzas.
The crowd's patience wore thin amid frequent holding, with Parker going down several times during grappling.
Parker closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires Local Rivalry Fight
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent all-Manchester fight to secure the European light heavyweight championship.
The venue became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony rang in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell ended, the silence became a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The action inside the ropes matched the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a left hook directly to the face in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured quickly, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the fighters landed powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the intensity hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
The victor barely secured the decision with official scores of draw, 115-113 and 115-112, but both fighters were determined and brave, everything their idol Hatton represented.
