UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to life under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round contest at the boxing arena.
But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a contest where the approaches never quite clicked, with excessive holding marring the fight.
Two judges judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my best showing but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was met by disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers felt the challenger, thirty-one, merited the win but the contender endured the second setback of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Earns Victory in Dull Affair
His career development has slowed in recent years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to take risks in a tentative opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to edge the better periods.
The crowd's patience diminished during constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during grappling.
The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor 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 appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels Manchester Derby Contest
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding local rivalry battle to capture the European light heavyweight championship.
The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant homage prior to the bout as 10 bells rang in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the quiet became a roar of "there's just one Hatton".
The action during the bout equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow flush on the chin in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the eight count.
But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured early, noticeable damage forming under his face as the pair landed punishing blows.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over the full distance.
Arthur edged the result with scoring tallies of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, everything their idol the legend stood for.
