British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive beginning to life under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a majority decision in a tight ten-round fight at the boxing arena.
But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the styles didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the contest.
The officials scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was greeted with boos from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers believed the challenger, thirty-one, merited the decision but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Secures Win in Uneventful Match
His career development has stalled in the past few years through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to take risks in a calculated initial rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was participating in his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective periods.
The audience's tolerance wore thin during frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during clinches.
Parker closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Motivates All-Manchester Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry contest to capture the continental title.
The stadium grew hushed for a profoundly moving tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in September.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the city since Hatton's passing. As the final chime faded, the silence gave way to a shout of "only one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook flush on the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was injured soon, noticeable damage appearing under his face as the duo traded powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the pace hardly diminished over the full distance.
Arthur barely secured the decision with official scores of even score, 115-113 and clearer margin, but each competitor were persistent and brave, everything their inspiration the legend represented.
