British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, landing some telling single shots in a match where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching marring the fight.
Two judges scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best display but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor commented in the ring as he was faced boos from the spectators.
The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts thought Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the contender suffered the second defeat of his 28-match career.
The Champion Earns Win in Uneventful Match
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent times through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a last chance - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers prepared to take risks in a tentative opening few rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.
The crowd's patience decreased because of regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Hatton Homage Motivates All-Manchester Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a terrific local rivalry battle to win the European light heavyweight championship.
The venue grew hushed for a profoundly moving homage ahead of the contest as 10 bells sounded in memory of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in September.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound faded, the silence gave way to a roar of "there's only one Hatton".
The fighting within the ring equaled the feeling. Arthur was floored by a left hook squarely on the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his position on the count of eight.
But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged quickly, significant bruising forming under his orbital area as the duo exchanged hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
The victor narrowly won the result with official scores of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but the two athletes were determined and full of heart, everything their inspiration the legend stood for.
