UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming debut to his career under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful individual punches in a contest where the styles didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing marring the action.
Two judges had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest display but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi said in the ring as he was faced boos from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts thought Parker, thirty-one, merited the decision but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Secures Triumph in Slow Match
His career development has plateaued in recent times through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the future of UK boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers willing to take risks in a calculated initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was participating in his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to edge the cleaner rounds.
The spectators' acceptance diminished because of constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Hatton Homage Fuels All-Manchester Contest
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester fight to win the European light-heavyweight title.
The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional memorial before the fight as ten bells tolled in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in last month.
It was the premier televised fight night in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime faded, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".
The fighting during the bout reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow directly to the jaw in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his footing on the count of eight.
But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured quickly, significant bruising forming under his face as the fighters exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur edged the result with scoring tallies of draw, narrow lead and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and courageous, all the qualities their hero the legend stood for.
