British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing beginning to his career under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a split decision in a competitive 10-round bout at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the approaches never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the fight.
The officials judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest display but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi said in the ring as he was faced negative reactions from the spectators.
The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts felt the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the contender suffered the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Win in Slow Affair
His career development has slowed in recent times through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers prepared to overcommit in a cagey opening few rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective periods.
The crowd's patience diminished during constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. However, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Fight
In the supporting bout, Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester contest to win the continental belt.
The stadium became quiet for a profoundly moving tribute ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who died 46 years old in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell ended, the silence transitioned to a shout of "only one Hatton".
The fighting during the bout reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow flush on the chin in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the eight count.
But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was injured quickly, significant bruising forming under his face as the fighters landed powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
Arthur edged the verdict with official scores of draw, narrow lead and 115-112, but the two athletes were determined and full of heart, exactly what their idol the legend represented.
