British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a tight ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But Parker found success, landing some telling clean blows in a fight where the techniques failed to mesh, with excessive holding spoiling the fight.
Two judges had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor stated in the ring as he was met by disapproval from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers believed Parker, thirty-one, merited the victory but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Claims Win in Slow Encounter
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - possibly in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors ready to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was participating in his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.
The audience's tolerance wore thin because of frequent holding, with Parker going down multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker closed well, but many rounds were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires Local Rivalry Contest
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to win the continental championship.
The venue grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage ahead of the contest as ten bells tolled in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who died 46 years old in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell faded, the quiet 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 left hook directly to the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured soon, noticeable damage developing under his face as the pair landed powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
The victor edged the decision with scoring tallies of draw, close margin and clearer margin, but the two athletes were persistent and courageous, everything their hero Hatton stood for.
