UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming start to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close 10-round fight at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the techniques didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching marring the action.
The officials had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my best performance but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor commented in the ringside as he was greeted with disapproval from the spectators.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers thought the challenger, 31, merited the victory but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Secures Win in Dull Match
His career development has stalled in recent years through management issues and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter willing to take risks in a tentative opening few rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to barely take the more effective rounds.
The audience's tolerance diminished during frequent holding, with Parker going down multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker closed well, but many rounds were difficult to score. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor advances, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Inspires All-Manchester Fight
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a excellent all-Manchester battle to capture the European light heavyweight title.
The arena fell silent for a profoundly moving tribute prior to the bout as 10 bells tolled in memory of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the city since Hatton's passing. As the last bell ended, the silence gave way to a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch directly to the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his position on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling appearing under his orbital area as the fighters landed punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the result with scoring tallies of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but each competitor were determined and brave, everything their inspiration the legend represented.
