UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive beginning to his career under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round bout at the boxing arena.
But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a contest where the styles didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing disrupting the contest.
Two judges judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest display but what do champions do? They win," the victor stated in the ringside as he was met by disapproval from the spectators.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers felt Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Claims Win in Uneventful Encounter
His career development has plateaued in recent times through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors ready to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to edge the more effective stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin during constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. However, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Homage Fuels Local Rivalry Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a excellent all-Manchester fight to capture the continental title.
The stadium became quiet for a extremely emotional homage ahead of the contest as ten bells sounded in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised fight night in the location since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the silence transitioned to a chant of "only one Hatton".
The action inside the ropes reflected the feeling. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch squarely on the jaw in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his position on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured soon, significant bruising forming under his orbital area as the duo landed hard punches.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
Arthur barely secured the verdict with official scores of 114-114, narrow lead and wider gap, but each competitor were determined and courageous, everything their hero Hatton represented.
