British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a majority decision in a tight 10-round bout at the boxing arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with excessive holding disrupting the contest.
The officials had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what do champions do? They win," the victor stated in the arena as he was faced boos from the audience.
The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers believed the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer suffered the second loss of his 28-match career.
The Champion Earns Victory in Uneventful Encounter
His career development has slowed in the past few years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of British boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter ready to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin amid regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during close exchanges.
Parker closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi advances, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Battle
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent all-Manchester battle to win the continental belt.
The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as 10 bells tolled in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound ended, the silence became a shout of "there's only one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch squarely on the chin in the initial stage, rising shakily to his position on the referee's count.
But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged quickly, noticeable damage developing under his orbital area as the pair landed punishing blows.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
The victor barely secured the result with official scores of draw, 115-113 and 115-112, but each competitor were determined and brave, exactly what their inspiration Hatton stood for.
