UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful single shots in a fight where the styles didn't complement each other, with excessive holding marring the fight.
Two judges had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was met by negative reactions from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts believed the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Win in Slow Encounter
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent years through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the future of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what appears to be a last chance - under recent support.
He started carefully, with both competitors prepared to take risks in a calculated initial rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was participating in his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to edge the cleaner periods.
The audience's tolerance diminished because of regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor several times during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels All-Manchester Battle
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a outstanding local rivalry contest to win the continental championship.
The stadium became quiet for a profoundly moving homage prior to the bout as 10 bells rang in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the silence transitioned to a shout of "only one Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes matched the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook flush on the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up quickly, significant bruising appearing under his face as the fighters exchanged hard punches.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but both fighters were persistent and full of heart, all the qualities their idol Hatton stood for.
