British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger found success, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the styles didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing spoiling the contest.
The officials had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was greeted with boos from the spectators.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts felt Parker, thirty-one, deserved the win but the contender suffered the second setback of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Claims Win in Slow Affair
His career development has stalled in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers prepared to be aggressive in a calculated initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was competing in only his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to edge the more effective stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin amid constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor advances, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Contest
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent all-Manchester contest to secure the continental title.
The arena fell silent for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells tolled in memory of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in September.
It was the first major televised match card in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell faded, the quiet gave way to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting during the bout matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow squarely on the chin in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his feet on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, noticeable damage developing under his eye as the duo landed powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor narrowly won the verdict with judges scorecards of draw, close margin and wider gap, but both fighters were persistent and brave, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton represented.
