UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a majority decision in a tight 10-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a match where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the contest.
Two judges scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor stated 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 Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.
Various analysts believed the challenger, thirty-one, merited the win but the contender endured the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Victory in Slow Encounter
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - maybe in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers prepared to be aggressive in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand during the bout, was making just his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to edge the cleaner stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance decreased during constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during clinches.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. However, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor progresses, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires Local Rivalry Battle
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester fight to win the European light-heavyweight belt.
The stadium fell silent for a extremely emotional homage ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the city since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness became a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow directly to the jaw in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.
But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up quickly, significant bruising appearing under his orbital area as the fighters landed hard punches.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
Arthur edged the result with scoring tallies of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but the two athletes were determined and full of heart, exactly what their inspiration Hatton represented.
