UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming start to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful individual punches in a contest where the approaches never quite clicked, with excessive holding spoiling the fight.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best display but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor said in the ring as he was faced boos from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts thought Parker, 31, should have been awarded the win but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Secures Victory in Uneventful Affair
His career development has stalled in recent years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - maybe in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with neither fighter ready to overcommit in a cagey early stages.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was competing in only his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the better rounds.
The audience's tolerance diminished because of regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during clinches.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Battle
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a terrific all-Manchester battle to secure the European light-heavyweight title.
The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant homage ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised fight night in the city since Hatton's death. As the final chime disappeared, the quiet became a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action during the bout matched the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch squarely on the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the eight count.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged quickly, heavy swelling forming under his eye as the duo traded hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
The victor narrowly won the decision with official scores of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their hero Hatton embodied.
