British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive start to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But Parker found success, landing some telling clean blows in a match where the techniques didn't complement each other, with excessive holding disrupting the fight.
The officials judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my finest display but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was met by disapproval from the audience.
The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers felt Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second setback of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Secures Win in Slow Affair
His career development has slowed in recent times through management issues and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with both competitors willing to take risks in a tentative initial rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was participating in his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to edge the better stanzas.
The audience's tolerance wore thin amid frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during close exchanges.
The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Inspires All-Manchester Contest
In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester battle to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.
The venue became quiet for a profoundly moving tribute prior to the bout as a bell ceremony rang in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell disappeared, the silence gave way to a roar of "there's only one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes reflected the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch flush on the face in the initial stage, rising shakily to his position on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured early, heavy swelling forming under his orbital area as the fighters exchanged punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the verdict with official scores of draw, narrow lead and clearer margin, but the two athletes were determined and full of heart, everything their idol Hatton stood for.
