British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing beginning to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a close 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective clean blows in a fight where the styles never quite clicked, with constant grabbing spoiling the fight.
Two judges judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best showing but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor commented in the ring as he was greeted with boos from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts believed the challenger, 31, merited the decision but the contender suffered the second defeat of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Earns Triumph in Slow Encounter
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers prepared to take risks in a calculated initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to narrowly win the better rounds.
The audience's tolerance decreased amid constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during clinches.
The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Fight
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester contest to capture the continental championship.
The arena became quiet for a profoundly moving homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in last month.
It was the first major televised fight night in the city since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the silence transitioned to a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The action inside the ropes matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook directly to the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the eight count.
But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was injured quickly, heavy swelling forming under his face as the fighters landed hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the intensity seldom decreased over the full distance.
Arthur edged the verdict with scoring tallies of draw, close margin and clearer margin, but the two athletes were persistent and brave, exactly what their idol the legend stood for.
