UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a majority decision in a tight ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the techniques failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the fight.
The officials scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my best showing but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor commented in the arena as he was faced boos from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers felt Parker, 31, merited the win but the contender suffered the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Win in Uneventful Encounter
His career development has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter ready to be aggressive in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was participating in his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the better stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance decreased because of constant clinching, with Parker going down multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker closed well, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires All-Manchester Contest
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent all-Manchester battle to win the European light-heavyweight championship.
The venue grew hushed for a deeply poignant memorial before the fight as ten bells sounded in honor of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in September.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound faded, the silence transitioned to a roar of "only one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes equaled the emotion. Arthur was floored by a significant blow squarely on the chin in the early round, standing uncertainly to his position on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged soon, significant bruising developing under his face as the duo traded powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over the full distance.
Arthur edged the decision with official scores of draw, 115-113 and clearer margin, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, everything their idol the legend embodied.
