British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming debut to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a majority decision in a tight ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker found success, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the action.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what do champions do? They win," the victor commented in the ring as he was greeted with negative reactions from the crowd.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.
Various analysts felt Parker, 31, deserved the decision but the contender endured the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Earns Triumph in Uneventful Affair
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent times through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of UK boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with both competitors willing to be aggressive in a calculated early stages.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was making just his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to edge the better rounds.
The spectators' acceptance diminished amid frequent holding, with Parker going down multiple occasions during close exchanges.
The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Inspires Manchester Derby Contest
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to secure the continental championship.
The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving tribute before the fight as 10 bells tolled in honor of the city's native Hatton, who died aged 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised fight night in the location since Hatton's death. As the final chime ended, the quiet gave way to a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The fighting within the ring reflected the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch squarely on the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, heavy swelling developing under his face as the duo exchanged punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the verdict with scoring tallies of draw, close margin and clearer margin, but each competitor were determined and brave, all the qualities their idol Hatton embodied.
