UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to his career under recent management with a decision win 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 bout at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, landing some telling clean blows in a fight where the approaches failed to mesh, with excessive holding marring the contest.
The officials had it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my best performance but what do champions do? They win," the victor commented in the ringside as he was greeted with disapproval from the spectators.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.
Various analysts felt the challenger, thirty-one, merited the win but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second loss of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Claims Victory in Slow Match
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent times through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - maybe in what appears to be a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with the two boxers ready to overcommit in a calculated initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was making just his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to narrowly win the better stanzas.
The crowd's patience wore thin because of frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.
The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates All-Manchester Battle
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding all-Manchester contest to capture the European light heavyweight title.
The venue became quiet for a profoundly moving tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony rang in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound disappeared, the quiet gave way to a roar of "there's only one Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes matched the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook squarely on the face in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his feet on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, significant bruising appearing under his face as the duo traded powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.
The victor edged the verdict with official scores of draw, 115-113 and wider gap, but each competitor were determined and full of heart, everything their inspiration the legend represented.
