UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive start to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a split decision in a close 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker had his moments, landing some telling clean blows in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with excessive holding spoiling the contest.
The officials scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was met by negative reactions from the crowd.
The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts thought Parker, thirty-one, merited the decision but the contender suffered the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Secures Victory in Slow Encounter
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent times through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what feels like a last chance - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a calculated early stages.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was making just his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to barely take the cleaner stanzas.
The audience's tolerance decreased amid constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels Manchester Derby Contest
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a excellent all-Manchester battle to win the European light-heavyweight title.
The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute prior to the bout as a bell ceremony rang in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in recently.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound ended, the silence gave way to a roar of "only one Hatton".
The fighting within the ring equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch flush on the chin in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up early, heavy swelling appearing under his orbital area as the duo landed hard punches.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
The victor edged the verdict with official scores of draw, narrow lead and clearer margin, but the two athletes were determined and courageous, everything their inspiration the legend represented.
