British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a split decision in a tight ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the styles failed to mesh, with excessive holding spoiling the action.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was faced boos from the crowd.
The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts believed the challenger, thirty-one, merited the win but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Triumph in Dull Affair
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent times through management issues and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter prepared to take risks in a tentative initial rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand during the bout, was participating in his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to barely take the better periods.
The crowd's patience wore thin because of regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during clinches.
The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Hatton Memorial Motivates All-Manchester Contest
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific local rivalry battle to secure the continental championship.
The stadium grew hushed for a profoundly moving tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony rang in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound ended, the silence transitioned to a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting within the ring equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook squarely on the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the eight count.
But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged soon, noticeable damage appearing under his face as the duo exchanged punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor narrowly won the result with scoring tallies of even score, narrow lead and clearer margin, but both fighters were persistent and full of heart, exactly what their idol Hatton represented.
