UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a split decision in a close ten-round contest at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful individual punches in a contest where the approaches failed to mesh, with frequent clinching spoiling the contest.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my finest display but how do champions respond? They win," the victor said in the ringside as he was greeted with disapproval from the audience.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Various analysts thought the challenger, thirty-one, merited the decision but the British boxer experienced the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Secures Victory in Uneventful Encounter
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what seems like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter ready to take risks in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was making just his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to barely take the better periods.
The spectators' acceptance decreased amid regular grabbing, with Parker going down several times during grappling.
The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Local Rivalry Contest
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent all-Manchester battle to win the continental championship.
The venue grew hushed for a extremely emotional memorial prior to the bout as 10 bells rang in memory of local hero Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound faded, the silence became a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow flush on the chin in the second round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the referee's count.
But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising appearing under his orbital area as the duo traded powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.
Arthur edged the result with official scores of 114-114, narrow lead and clearer margin, but each competitor were relentless and courageous, exactly what their hero the legend represented.
