British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing beginning to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, landing some telling single shots in a fight where the approaches didn't complement each other, with excessive holding disrupting the fight.
The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor commented in the ring as he was greeted with boos from the spectators.
The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts felt the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the contender endured the second loss of his 28-match career.
The Champion Earns Win in Uneventful Match
His career development has slowed in recent years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was competing in only his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to edge the more effective rounds.
The audience's tolerance wore thin amid regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Hatton Memorial Inspires Local Rivalry Fight
In the co-main event, Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester battle to win the continental championship.
The venue became quiet for a profoundly moving homage ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony rang in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in September.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness became a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow flush on the chin in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his position on the count of eight.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up quickly, significant bruising forming under his orbital area as the pair exchanged punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.
Arthur edged the verdict with official scores of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but the two athletes were determined and courageous, exactly what their hero Hatton stood for.
