UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming debut to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective single shots in a fight where the techniques didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching marring the contest.
Two judges had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor stated in the arena as he was greeted with boos from the audience.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts believed Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the contender endured the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Secures Triumph in Uneventful Encounter
His career development has stalled in the past few years through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - maybe in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to narrowly win the better stanzas.
The crowd's patience decreased because of frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor several times during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Hatton Homage Fuels Local Rivalry Battle
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding local rivalry fight to capture the continental title.
The venue grew hushed for a profoundly moving tribute before the fight as 10 bells tolled in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the city since Hatton's passing. As the final chime faded, the silence became a shout of "only one Hatton".
The action within the ring matched the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook squarely on the jaw in the second round, rising shakily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured soon, noticeable damage appearing under his face as the fighters traded hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over the full distance.
The victor edged the verdict with scoring tallies of draw, close margin and wider gap, but each competitor were relentless and full of heart, everything their hero Hatton embodied.
