UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective single shots in a contest where the techniques failed to mesh, with frequent clinching disrupting the fight.
The officials had it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my best display but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor stated in the ringside as he was faced boos from the crowd.
The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts believed Parker, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the British boxer endured the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Victory in Uneventful Affair
His career development has slowed in recent years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with neither fighter prepared to be aggressive in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was making just his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance decreased amid regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during clinches.
Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor progresses, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Contest
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester contest to capture the European light-heavyweight championship.
The venue fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the silence gave way to a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The competition during the bout matched the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow flush on the face in the initial stage, rising shakily to his feet on the eight count.
But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising forming under his face as the duo traded punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the pace rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
Arthur edged the decision with scoring tallies of draw, narrow lead and wider gap, but the two athletes were relentless and brave, all the qualities their hero Hatton embodied.
