UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to his career under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling single shots in a contest where the styles didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching spoiling the contest.
The officials judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best showing but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was faced negative reactions from the spectators.
The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th pro success.
Various analysts felt Parker, 31, deserved the win but the contender endured the second loss of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Secures Victory in Slow Encounter
His career development has stalled in recent years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what seems like a last chance - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was participating in his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to narrowly win the better rounds.
The crowd's patience wore thin during frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a terrific local rivalry contest to win the continental championship.
The arena became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial before the fight as 10 bells rang in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the city since Hatton's death. As the last bell faded, the quiet gave way to a roar of "there's only one Hatton".
The competition within the ring matched the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, heavy swelling appearing under his eye as the fighters traded powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
Arthur barely secured the decision with official scores of draw, 115-113 and clearer margin, but each competitor were determined and full of heart, exactly what their idol the legend stood for.
