British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a split decision in a tight 10-round contest at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the styles never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the action.
Two judges scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest display but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was met by disapproval from the spectators.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers believed Parker, 31, merited the decision but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Claims Triumph in Slow Affair
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and long spells of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the next star of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors ready to be aggressive in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was making just his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to barely take the cleaner rounds.
The spectators' acceptance decreased because of constant clinching, with the challenger going down several times during close exchanges.
Parker closed well, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates Local Rivalry Battle
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester contest to win the European light-heavyweight title.
The arena became quiet for a profoundly moving homage prior to the bout as ten bells rang in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in September.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the city since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound disappeared, the silence transitioned to a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes matched the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch squarely on the jaw in the initial stage, rising shakily to his feet on the eight count.
But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged soon, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the pair exchanged punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
The victor narrowly won the verdict with official scores of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but both fighters were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their hero Hatton embodied.
