UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output seemingly secured him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful single shots in a contest where the techniques didn't complement each other, with excessive holding marring the fight.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor stated in the ring as he was greeted with boos from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.
Various analysts felt Parker, 31, deserved the win but the contender suffered the second setback of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Earns Triumph in Dull Match
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent times through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with both competitors ready to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to barely take the better stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance decreased because of constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Fight
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry fight to secure the European light heavyweight championship.
The arena fell silent for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as 10 bells rang in honor of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in September.
It was the first major televised fight night in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell ended, the silence became a roar of "there's only one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes matched the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch directly to the face in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his footing on the count of eight.
But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured soon, noticeable damage appearing under his eye as the duo landed powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
Arthur edged the decision with scoring tallies of even score, close margin and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and full of heart, exactly what their inspiration the legend represented.
