British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing start to life under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a split decision in a competitive 10-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But Parker had his moments, delivering effective individual punches in a fight where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing spoiling the fight.
The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi said in the ring as he was met by disapproval from the spectators.
The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts thought Parker, thirty-one, merited the victory but the British boxer experienced the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Victory in Slow Encounter
The fighter's advancement has stalled in the past few years through management issues and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of British boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with the two boxers prepared to take risks in a calculated initial rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to narrowly win the better stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance decreased because of frequent holding, with Parker going down several times during grappling.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
The victor advances, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Fight
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry contest to capture the European light heavyweight championship.
The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in memory of local hero Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in September.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the final chime faded, the stillness gave way to a roar of "there's only one Hatton".
The action during the bout reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch directly to the chin in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was injured early, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the duo landed powerful shots.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
The victor barely secured the decision with official scores of even score, narrow lead and wider gap, but the two athletes were relentless and brave, exactly what their inspiration the legend embodied.
