British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to life under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker had his moments, delivering effective single shots in a fight where the styles didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the contest.
The officials had it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best performance but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was met by disapproval from the spectators.
The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.
Various analysts felt the challenger, thirty-one, merited the victory but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second defeat of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Earns Win in Slow Affair
His career development has stalled in recent times through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was making just his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the better stanzas.
The audience's tolerance wore thin amid frequent holding, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during close exchanges.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Tribute Motivates Local Rivalry Contest
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent all-Manchester battle to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.
The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as 10 bells sounded in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised match card in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound faded, the silence gave way to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action during the bout reflected the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a left hook directly to the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured early, significant bruising forming under his face as the duo exchanged punishing blows.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over the full distance.
Arthur barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of draw, close margin and 115-112, but each competitor were persistent and courageous, all the qualities their hero Hatton represented.
