British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round bout at the boxing arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful individual punches in a contest where the techniques never quite clicked, with frequent clinching marring the fight.
Two judges had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my best display but what do champions do? They win," the victor said in the ringside as he was faced disapproval from the audience.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the win but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Triumph in Uneventful Match
The fighter's advancement has stalled in the past few years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to take risks in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was making just his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective rounds.
The crowd's patience diminished during regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during clinches.
The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Fuels All-Manchester Fight
In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester battle to win the European light-heavyweight title.
The stadium became quiet for a profoundly moving homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of local hero Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in September.
It was the premier televised fight night in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell faded, the quiet transitioned to a roar of "only one Hatton".
The action within the ring matched the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow flush on the face in the early round, standing uncertainly to his position on the eight count.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up early, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the pair traded hard punches.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
The victor narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of draw, narrow lead and 115-112, but each competitor were relentless and brave, all the qualities their idol the legend stood for.
