British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a split decision in a close 10-round bout at the boxing arena.
But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective clean blows in a fight where the styles failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the fight.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best performance but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor stated in the ringside as he was met by boos from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Various analysts thought the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the contender suffered the second setback of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Secures Triumph in Uneventful Affair
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent years through contract problems and extended periods of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to be aggressive in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was making just his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to edge the more effective rounds.
The audience's tolerance decreased because of regular grabbing, with Parker going down various instances during clinches.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Battle
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester battle to win the European light-heavyweight championship.
The venue fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the stillness gave way to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes matched the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch squarely on the face in the second round, rising shakily to his feet on the eight count.
But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged soon, heavy swelling appearing under his eye as the fighters exchanged hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the decision with official scores of draw, narrow lead and clearer margin, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, exactly what their inspiration the legend stood for.
