UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round bout at the boxing arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective individual punches in a match where the techniques failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the contest.
Two judges scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what defines champions? They win," the victor stated in the ringside as he was greeted with negative reactions from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th career victory.
Various analysts thought the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the win but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Secures Victory in Slow Encounter
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent times through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with both competitors prepared to be aggressive in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was participating in his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to edge the better rounds.
The spectators' acceptance diminished because of frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during close exchanges.
Parker closed well, but many rounds were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Contest
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester fight to capture the continental title.
The arena fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial prior to the bout as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who died aged 46 in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the final chime disappeared, the silence transitioned to a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow directly to the jaw in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the eight count.
But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged soon, significant bruising forming under his face as the fighters landed powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor narrowly won the decision with scoring tallies of even score, narrow lead and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, exactly what their idol Hatton represented.
