British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a majority decision in a close ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker found success, connecting with powerful single shots in a fight where the approaches didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.
The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest display but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor commented in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the audience.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers thought the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the British boxer endured the second setback of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Secures Victory in Slow Encounter
His career development has slowed in recent years through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He started carefully, with the two boxers ready to take risks in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was competing in only his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the cleaner rounds.
The spectators' acceptance diminished during frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor advances, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Motivates All-Manchester Fight
In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry fight to win the European light heavyweight championship.
The venue grew hushed for a profoundly moving tribute prior to the bout as ten bells rang in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who died 46 years old in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound disappeared, the stillness became a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout matched the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow flush on the face in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his footing on the referee's count.
But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage appearing under his face as the fighters exchanged powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.
Arthur edged the decision with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and clearer margin, but the two athletes were relentless and brave, everything their hero the legend stood for.
