UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing start to his career under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level likely gained him a majority decision in a tight ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful individual punches in a match where the approaches failed to mesh, with excessive holding spoiling the fight.
The officials judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my best performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was met by negative reactions from the spectators.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts felt the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer experienced the second loss of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Secures Victory in Dull Match
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent times through contract problems and long spells of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the future of UK boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers ready to take risks in a tentative initial rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to barely take the cleaner stanzas.
The crowd's patience wore thin during constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.
The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Hatton Homage Inspires Local Rivalry Fight
In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a terrific all-Manchester fight to capture the European light-heavyweight title.
The arena became quiet for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony rang in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the city since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the silence transitioned to a shout of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting during the bout matched the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the face in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the eight count.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged early, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the pair traded powerful shots.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
The victor narrowly won the result with official scores of even score, narrow lead and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and courageous, everything their idol the legend embodied.
