British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a split decision in a tight ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But Parker had his moments, landing some telling single shots in a contest where the techniques failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the fight.
The officials scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was greeted with disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers thought Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Secures Victory in Uneventful Match
His career development has slowed in recent times through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what appears to be a last chance - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers ready to take risks in a tentative opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand during the bout, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to barely take the cleaner rounds.
The audience's tolerance wore thin amid constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during clinches.
The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
The victor advances, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Motivates All-Manchester Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a excellent all-Manchester contest to capture the European light heavyweight championship.
The venue became quiet for a profoundly moving memorial ahead of the contest as 10 bells rang in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who died 46 years old in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the city since Hatton's death. As the final chime ended, the silence became a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition within the ring equaled the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch flush on the chin in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his position on the eight count.
But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged early, heavy swelling appearing under his orbital area as the duo exchanged hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor narrowly won the result with official scores of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and brave, all the qualities their inspiration the legend represented.
