British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing beginning to his career under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round contest at the boxing arena.
But the challenger found success, landing some telling single shots in a match where the approaches failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the fight.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi said in the ring as he was faced boos from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, 31, merited the decision but the British boxer endured the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Triumph in Uneventful Match
His career development has stalled in the past few years through management issues and considerable time of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the next star of British boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a last chance - under recent support.
He started carefully, with the two boxers prepared to be aggressive in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was participating in his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to barely take the cleaner stanzas.
The audience's tolerance decreased during constant clinching, with Parker going down several times during clinches.
The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Hatton Tribute Inspires All-Manchester Fight
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific all-Manchester fight to secure the European light heavyweight title.
The venue became quiet for a extremely emotional memorial ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of local hero Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting during the bout matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow squarely on the face in the second round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the referee's count.
But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising developing under his eye as the fighters exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.
The victor narrowly won the result with scoring tallies of draw, 115-113 and 115-112, but both fighters were relentless and brave, exactly what their inspiration Hatton stood for.
