British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But the challenger found success, landing some telling individual punches in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing disrupting the fight.
The officials scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my best display but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor said in the ringside as he was faced boos from the audience.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers thought Parker, thirty-one, merited the victory but the British boxer suffered the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Victory in Dull Affair
His career development has plateaued in recent times through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with both competitors willing to take risks in a cagey opening few rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was making just his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to edge the cleaner stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance decreased because of constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester battle to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.
The arena fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial before the fight as ten bells sounded in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound faded, the silence transitioned to a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action inside the ropes matched the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch directly to the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured quickly, heavy swelling forming under his eye as the pair landed powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the action rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the verdict with official scores of 114-114, narrow lead and wider gap, but both fighters were determined and courageous, everything their inspiration Hatton embodied.
