British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming start to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a split decision in a close ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective individual punches in a contest where the techniques didn't complement each other, with excessive holding disrupting the fight.
Two judges had it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor commented in the ring as he was met by boos from the spectators.
The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts thought Parker, 31, merited the decision but the contender endured the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Victory in Slow Match
His career development has slowed in recent times through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the next star of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter prepared to take risks in a calculated opening few rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a solid defense to narrowly win the better stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance decreased because of constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester fight to win the European light heavyweight belt.
The stadium fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial prior to the bout as 10 bells sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the final chime faded, the quiet transitioned to a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting during the bout equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch directly to the jaw in the initial stage, rising shakily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured early, heavy swelling developing under his orbital area as the duo exchanged punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their inspiration the legend embodied.
