British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output appeared to earn him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful individual punches in a contest where the techniques didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.
The officials judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi said in the arena as he was faced boos from the audience.
The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers believed the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the contender endured the second loss of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Secures Triumph in Uneventful Encounter
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and extended periods of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the future of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with both competitors ready to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was making just his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to narrowly win the cleaner rounds.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin during regular grabbing, with Parker going down multiple occasions during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but many rounds were hard to judge. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor progresses, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates Manchester Derby Contest
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry contest to capture the continental title.
The arena became quiet for a profoundly moving homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony rang in honor of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in recently.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell faded, the silence became a chant of "there's just one Hatton".
The fighting during the bout matched the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow squarely on the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage forming under his orbital area as the duo exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the intensity hardly diminished over the full distance.
Arthur edged the decision with judges scorecards of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but each competitor were relentless and full of heart, exactly what their inspiration Hatton stood for.
