British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to life under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a majority decision in a close 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But Parker had his moments, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the techniques didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the action.
Two judges had it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best display but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor stated in the ringside as he was greeted with negative reactions from the spectators.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th career victory.
Various analysts felt the challenger, 31, merited the victory but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Win in Slow Encounter
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with neither fighter ready to take risks in a tentative opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was participating in his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective rounds.
The audience's tolerance diminished during constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during clinches.
Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Contest
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester battle to secure the European light heavyweight belt.
The arena grew hushed for a profoundly moving memorial ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the city since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the quiet became a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow directly to the chin in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the eight count.
But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was damaged soon, heavy swelling appearing under his eye as the duo traded hard punches.
The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur edged the verdict with judges scorecards of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but both fighters were persistent and full of heart, exactly what their idol the legend embodied.
