British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive beginning to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close ten-round fight at the boxing arena.
But the challenger found success, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the approaches failed to mesh, with frequent clinching disrupting the action.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best performance but what defines champions? They win," the victor stated in the ring as he was met by disapproval from the spectators.
The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th career victory.
Various analysts believed Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second loss of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Claims Win in Slow Affair
His career development has plateaued in recent years through management issues and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers ready to be aggressive in a tentative opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was participating in his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to edge the more effective periods.
The audience's tolerance diminished amid regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor several times during clinches.
Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Local Rivalry Contest
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by split-decision in a terrific local rivalry battle to capture the European light heavyweight championship.
The stadium fell silent for a profoundly moving tribute prior to the bout as ten bells rang in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in last month.
It was the first major televised fight night in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell disappeared, the silence became a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition within the ring matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow flush on the chin in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his feet on the eight count.
But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage appearing under his orbital area as the fighters traded hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the pace rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the verdict with judges scorecards of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, everything their inspiration Hatton stood for.
