British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming start to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a split decision in a tight 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger found success, landing some telling clean blows in a fight where the styles never quite clicked, with excessive holding spoiling the fight.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my best display but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was faced negative reactions from the crowd.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts believed Parker, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the contender suffered the second setback of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Earns Win in Dull Match
His career development has stalled in recent years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - maybe in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to barely take the more effective periods.
The spectators' acceptance decreased during frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.
Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Although, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor advances, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Contest
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry fight to secure the continental belt.
The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional homage before the fight as 10 bells sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet became a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring equaled the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a left hook flush on the chin in the second round, standing uncertainly to his position on the eight count.
But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage appearing under his orbital area as the pair exchanged punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over the full distance.
Arthur barely secured the result with scoring tallies of 114-114, 115-113 and wider gap, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, everything their idol Hatton represented.
