British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a split decision in a close 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful individual punches in a match where the techniques failed to mesh, with excessive holding marring the contest.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best showing but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was faced negative reactions from the audience.
The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers thought Parker, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second loss of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Earns Win in Uneventful Match
His career development has slowed in the past few years through management issues and considerable time of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers willing to take risks in a calculated early stages.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to barely take the cleaner rounds.
The crowd's patience wore thin because of regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during close exchanges.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates Manchester Derby Battle
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester battle to capture the European light heavyweight title.
The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute prior to the bout as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who died 46 years old in September.
It was the first major televised fight night in the location since Hatton's death. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness gave way to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition within the ring equaled the emotion. Arthur was floored by a left hook directly to the face in the second round, rising shakily to his feet on the eight count.
But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, significant bruising forming under his orbital area as the pair traded hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
The victor barely secured the result with official scores of 114-114, narrow lead and clearer margin, but each competitor were relentless and courageous, everything their hero Hatton embodied.
