British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger found success, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the approaches never quite clicked, with excessive holding marring the action.
The officials had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best display but what defines champions? They win," the victor stated in the arena as he was faced negative reactions from the crowd.
The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Claims Win in Slow Affair
His career development has stalled in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to realize his potential - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with neither fighter willing to overcommit 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 during the bout, was competing in only his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a solid defense to edge the cleaner periods.
The crowd's patience wore thin amid regular grabbing, with Parker going down various instances during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Although, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels Local Rivalry Battle
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent all-Manchester contest to secure the European light heavyweight belt.
The arena grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the silence gave way to a roar of "only one Hatton".
The competition within the ring equaled the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the jaw in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the pair traded punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the pace hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
The victor narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but each competitor were persistent and courageous, everything their hero Hatton stood for.
