British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker had his moments, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the techniques didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching disrupting the fight.
Two judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was greeted with disapproval from the spectators.
The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts felt Parker, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Claims Triumph in Slow Affair
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent times through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He started carefully, with the two boxers ready to be aggressive in a tentative initial rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was participating in his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to edge the cleaner rounds.
The spectators' acceptance diminished during frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during grappling.
The underdog closed well, but many rounds were challenging to assess. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Hatton Homage Fuels Manchester Derby Battle
In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a excellent local rivalry contest to secure the European light-heavyweight title.
The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional memorial before the fight as ten bells sounded in honor of local hero Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound disappeared, the quiet gave way to a shout of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The action during the bout matched the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook squarely on the jaw in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his footing on the count of eight.
But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured quickly, heavy swelling appearing under his face as the duo landed powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
The victor barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of even score, close margin and clearer margin, but the two athletes were determined and brave, exactly what their idol Hatton stood for.
