British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive start to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level likely gained him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger had his moments, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the techniques failed to mesh, with frequent clinching disrupting the fight.
Two judges scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my best showing but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was met by negative reactions from the audience.
The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts believed Parker, thirty-one, merited the victory but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second loss of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Claims Win in Uneventful Encounter
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent times through management issues and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a cagey opening few rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to barely take the more effective rounds.
The spectators' acceptance diminished amid constant clinching, with the challenger going down several times during grappling.
The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Battle
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to win the European light-heavyweight title.
The arena became quiet for a profoundly moving memorial before the fight as 10 bells sounded in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in September.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell faded, the quiet gave way to a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition within the ring reflected the feeling. Arthur was floored by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up early, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the fighters exchanged punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor edged the result with scoring tallies of draw, 115-113 and wider gap, but the two athletes were determined and brave, everything their idol the legend represented.
