UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level likely gained him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful single shots in a match where the approaches failed to mesh, with frequent clinching marring the action.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor commented in the arena as he was met by negative reactions from the spectators.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts felt the challenger, 31, deserved the decision but the British boxer experienced the second loss of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Claims Victory in Dull Match
His career development has slowed in recent years through management issues and long spells of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to realize his potential - maybe in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He started carefully, with both competitors willing to take risks in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder 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 made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to narrowly win the cleaner rounds.
The crowd's patience diminished amid constant clinching, with Parker going down several times during clinches.
The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates Local Rivalry Fight
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a outstanding all-Manchester contest to secure the European light-heavyweight title.
The venue became quiet for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells sounded in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound faded, the silence gave way to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes matched the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the face in the second round, rising shakily to his position on the count of eight.
But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up early, heavy swelling forming under his eye as the duo exchanged hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the pace rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
Arthur barely secured the decision with scoring tallies of draw, 115-113 and wider gap, but the two athletes were determined and full of heart, everything their idol the legend stood for.
