UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing beginning to life under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But Parker had his moments, delivering effective single shots in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching spoiling the contest.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was met by negative reactions from the audience.
The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers believed Parker, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Secures Victory in Uneventful Affair
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to realize his potential - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand during the bout, was participating in his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the better rounds.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin because of constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. However, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates Manchester Derby Battle
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a excellent local rivalry fight to win the continental belt.
The venue became quiet for a profoundly moving homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the quiet transitioned to a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The action during the bout reflected the emotion. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch flush on the chin in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.
But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged early, heavy swelling developing under his orbital area as the fighters landed hard punches.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the pace rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, 115-113 and wider gap, but both fighters were persistent and full of heart, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton embodied.
