UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a majority decision in a close 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective individual punches in a contest where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the fight.
The officials had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was faced negative reactions from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts believed Parker, thirty-one, merited the decision but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Earns Victory in Slow Match
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent times through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter ready to take risks in a tentative initial rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the more effective periods.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin during regular grabbing, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi advances, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Contest
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific all-Manchester fight to win the European light-heavyweight belt.
The arena became quiet for a extremely emotional memorial prior to the bout as a bell ceremony rang in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in recently.
It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime faded, the stillness transitioned to a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes matched the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the face in the initial stage, rising shakily to his footing on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up early, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the duo exchanged punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor edged the decision with scoring tallies of draw, narrow lead and clearer margin, but each competitor were relentless and courageous, everything their idol the legend embodied.
