British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective single shots in a contest where the techniques failed to mesh, with constant grabbing disrupting the action.
The officials judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor stated in the ringside as he was faced disapproval from the spectators.
The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th career victory.
Various analysts felt Parker, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second loss of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Earns Win in Dull Match
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent times through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - possibly in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with neither fighter willing to be aggressive in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to edge the more effective periods.
The spectators' acceptance diminished during frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.
The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor advances, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Fuels All-Manchester Contest
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by split-decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester battle to capture the European light heavyweight belt.
The venue became quiet for a profoundly moving memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony sounded in memory of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in September.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the last bell ended, the silence became a shout of "there's just one Hatton".
The action inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch directly to the jaw in the second round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.
But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured early, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the fighters traded punishing blows.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
Arthur edged the result with scoring tallies of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but each competitor were persistent and brave, everything their idol the legend embodied.
