UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing beginning to life under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a split decision in a tight ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful single shots in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with excessive holding spoiling the action.
The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my best performance but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor commented in the arena as he was met by disapproval from the spectators.
The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.
Various analysts believed the challenger, thirty-one, merited the win but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Claims Triumph in Dull Match
His career development has slowed in recent times through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - maybe in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with neither fighter ready to take risks in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.
The audience's tolerance diminished during regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during grappling.
The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Hatton Tribute Motivates Manchester Derby Battle
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester fight to capture the European light heavyweight title.
The stadium became quiet for a profoundly moving memorial prior to the bout as ten bells sounded in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in recently.
It was the first major televised fight night in the location since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the quiet transitioned to a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring matched the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook squarely on the chin in the early round, rising shakily to his footing on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising forming under his eye as the duo traded hard punches.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the verdict with official scores of draw, 115-113 and clearer margin, but the two athletes were determined and brave, everything their idol Hatton embodied.
