British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming start to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level likely gained him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling clean blows in a match where the techniques didn't complement each other, with excessive holding marring the fight.
Two judges judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my finest showing but how do champions respond? They win," the victor stated in the arena as he was met by boos from the spectators.
The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts believed the challenger, 31, deserved the victory but the British boxer experienced the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Triumph in Slow Encounter
Buatsi's progress has stalled in the past few years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to overcommit in a calculated initial rounds.
Parker, 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 competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to barely take the better rounds.
The audience's tolerance diminished during frequent holding, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
The victor progresses, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels Local Rivalry Battle
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester battle to secure the European light heavyweight championship.
The arena became quiet for a profoundly moving homage prior to the bout as 10 bells rang in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in September.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the quiet gave way to a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition within the ring matched the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook flush on the chin in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the fighters exchanged hard punches.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the intensity seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
The victor narrowly won the verdict with judges scorecards of draw, 115-113 and wider gap, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their idol the legend embodied.
