British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming debut to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a split decision in a close 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective clean blows in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching marring the action.
The officials scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor stated in the ring as he was greeted with negative reactions from the crowd.
The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers believed the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the contender endured the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Secures Triumph in Dull Encounter
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent times through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter prepared to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to narrowly win the more effective periods.
The audience's tolerance wore thin amid regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during grappling.
The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Fuels All-Manchester Battle
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a excellent all-Manchester battle to capture the European light heavyweight title.
The arena grew hushed for a profoundly moving memorial prior to the bout as ten bells tolled in memory of local hero Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the stillness transitioned to a chant of "there's just one Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes equaled the feeling. Arthur was floored by a significant blow squarely on the chin in the early round, rising shakily to his position on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising developing under his face as the fighters traded punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the action rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor barely secured the verdict with scoring tallies of draw, 115-113 and 115-112, but both fighters were persistent and full of heart, exactly what their inspiration Hatton embodied.
