UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to his career under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a split decision in a competitive ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling single shots in a match where the styles never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the action.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my best showing but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the spectators.
The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts felt the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the win but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Claims Victory in Slow Affair
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to take risks in a calculated initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.
The crowd's patience decreased amid regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Homage Fuels Local Rivalry Fight
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester fight to secure the European light heavyweight title.
The venue grew hushed for a profoundly moving memorial prior to the bout as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in September.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the city since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound faded, the quiet became a roar of "only one Hatton".
The competition during the bout equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch directly to the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged quickly, significant bruising appearing under his orbital area as the pair landed hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the pace hardly diminished over the full distance.
Arthur edged the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and 115-112, but each competitor were determined and courageous, everything their inspiration Hatton embodied.
