British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing beginning to life under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a majority decision in a close ten-round fight at the boxing arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with excessive holding disrupting the action.
The officials judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi said in the arena as he was met by disapproval from the crowd.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts believed Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the contender experienced the second setback of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Claims Victory in Uneventful Match
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent years through contract problems and extended periods of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the future of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand during the bout, was participating in his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to edge the more effective stanzas.
The crowd's patience diminished because of constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor several times during grappling.
The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent all-Manchester fight to win the European light heavyweight title.
The arena grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage before the fight as 10 bells rang in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the city since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound ended, the silence became a chant of "there's just one Hatton".
The action within the ring matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch flush on the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the duo traded powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor barely secured the decision with official scores of 114-114, narrow lead and clearer margin, but the two athletes were determined and full of heart, everything their idol the legend embodied.
