British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level 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 single shots in a contest where the techniques never quite clicked, with excessive holding spoiling the contest.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was faced disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers felt the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the British boxer experienced the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Claims Victory in Dull Encounter
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in the past few years through management issues and considerable time of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter ready to take risks in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to edge the more effective stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin because of frequent holding, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Hatton Homage Fuels All-Manchester Contest
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding local rivalry battle to win the European light-heavyweight belt.
The arena became quiet for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as ten bells rang in memory of local hero Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".
The fighting during the bout matched the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow squarely on the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured quickly, significant bruising forming under his orbital area as the pair exchanged powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over the full distance.
Arthur edged the result with scoring tallies of draw, narrow lead and 115-112, but each competitor were relentless and brave, all the qualities their inspiration the legend embodied.
