UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round fight at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the techniques failed to mesh, with frequent clinching spoiling the contest.
The officials judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest display but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor commented in the ring as he was faced negative reactions from the crowd.
The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts thought Parker, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Secures Victory in Dull Match
The fighter's advancement has slowed in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to barely take the cleaner periods.
The audience's tolerance wore thin during frequent holding, with Parker going down several times during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Hatton Homage Inspires Local Rivalry Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester fight to capture the continental title.
The venue grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony tolled in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who died at age 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the final chime disappeared, the stillness gave way to a chant of "only one Hatton".
The action inside the ropes matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook flush on the chin in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the eight count.
But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged quickly, noticeable damage appearing under his face as the pair traded powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the pace rarely dropped over the full distance.
Arthur barely secured the result with official scores of even score, narrow lead and wider gap, but the two athletes were persistent and full of heart, all the qualities their hero Hatton represented.
