British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive debut to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a competitive ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling clean blows in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the fight.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor stated in the ring as he was met by boos from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers thought the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Claims Triumph in Uneventful Match
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent times through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with both competitors willing to take risks in a calculated initial rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was making just his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to barely take the better rounds.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin because of regular grabbing, with the challenger going down several times during grappling.
The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels Local Rivalry Fight
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific local rivalry fight to win the continental belt.
The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony rang in memory of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised fight night in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the silence gave way to a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring reflected the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch squarely on the jaw in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the count of eight.
But the red-colored attire of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up soon, heavy swelling forming under his eye as the pair exchanged hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur edged the decision with judges scorecards of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but the two athletes were relentless and brave, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton stood for.
