British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round contest at the boxing arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the approaches failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the contest.
Two judges had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but how do champions respond? They win," the victor commented in the arena as he was faced disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts thought Parker, 31, deserved the decision but the British boxer experienced the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Earns Triumph in Dull Encounter
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent times through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a cagey early stages.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was competing in only his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the better stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance diminished amid regular grabbing, with the challenger going down several times during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi advances, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates Manchester Derby Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding all-Manchester contest to win the European light-heavyweight title.
The venue grew hushed for a extremely emotional homage prior to the bout as 10 bells rang in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in last month.
It was the premier televised match card in the city since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet became a chant of "there's just one Hatton".
The action within the ring matched the emotion. Arthur was floored by a left hook squarely on the jaw in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, heavy swelling developing under his face as the duo traded punishing blows.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
Arthur barely secured the result with official scores of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and full of heart, everything their inspiration Hatton embodied.
