British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive debut to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output appeared to earn him a split decision in a competitive 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker found success, delivering effective single shots in a match where the techniques failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the contest.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was met by negative reactions from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers thought Parker, 31, merited the win but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second defeat of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Secures Win in Dull Match
Buatsi's progress has slowed in the past few years through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers ready to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was participating in his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance diminished because of frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Contest
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent local rivalry fight to secure the continental belt.
The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving tribute before the fight as 10 bells sounded in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the quiet gave way to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout matched the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow directly to the jaw in the second round, rising shakily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up early, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the pair traded punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
The victor barely secured the result with official scores of even score, narrow lead and wider gap, but the two athletes were relentless and courageous, everything their inspiration the legend embodied.
