British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming start to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a split decision in a competitive ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective single shots in a fight where the techniques failed to mesh, with frequent clinching marring the contest.
The officials judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my best performance but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was faced disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers believed the challenger, 31, deserved the decision but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Win in Dull Match
His career development has stalled in recent times through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - maybe in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter prepared to overcommit in a cagey initial 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 making just his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a solid defense to barely take the more effective stanzas.
The crowd's patience diminished during constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor several times during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Hatton Tribute Fuels Local Rivalry Fight
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a outstanding local rivalry fight to secure the continental belt.
The venue grew hushed for a extremely emotional memorial prior to the bout as ten bells tolled in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in September.
It was the first major televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the stillness gave way to a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action inside the ropes matched the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow flush on the chin in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, heavy swelling developing under his face as the duo exchanged punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over the full distance.
Arthur barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their inspiration the legend embodied.
