British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing beginning to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But Parker found success, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the styles didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing marring the fight.
The officials had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my finest display but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor said in the ringside as he was met by boos from the crowd.
The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts thought Parker, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Win in Dull Encounter
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent times through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers prepared to be aggressive in a calculated early stages.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was making just his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to barely take the cleaner stanzas.
The crowd's patience wore thin amid regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor several times during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
The victor advances, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Contest
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific local rivalry fight to secure the continental belt.
The stadium became quiet for a extremely emotional homage ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the silence transitioned to a chant of "there's just one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes reflected the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook directly to the chin in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his feet on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in competitive blue - was injured soon, significant bruising forming under his face as the duo landed powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor edged the result with official scores of even score, close margin and clearer margin, but the two athletes were relentless and brave, exactly what their inspiration the legend embodied.
