British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive beginning to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful individual punches in a fight where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the fight.
Two judges scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was greeted with negative reactions from the audience.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers believed the challenger, 31, deserved the victory but the British boxer experienced the second setback of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Secures Triumph in Slow Affair
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent times through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with both competitors ready to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was making just his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to barely take the cleaner periods.
The crowd's patience wore thin because of constant clinching, with the challenger going down several times during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor advances, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Homage Fuels Local Rivalry Fight
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester contest to capture the continental championship.
The venue fell silent for a extremely emotional homage before the fight as a bell ceremony rang in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised fight night in the city since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow flush on the face in the initial stage, rising shakily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up early, heavy swelling developing under his orbital area as the duo exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
The victor barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, everything their hero Hatton represented.
