UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing start to life under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round bout at the boxing arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful single shots in a fight where the styles didn't complement each other, with excessive holding marring the contest.
Two judges had it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my best display but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was met by negative reactions from the spectators.
The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Earns Triumph in Uneventful Encounter
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what appears to be a last chance - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to be aggressive in a calculated early stages.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to narrowly win the better rounds.
The crowd's patience diminished amid frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during close exchanges.
Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Hatton Tribute Motivates All-Manchester Contest
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding local rivalry battle to win the European light-heavyweight belt.
The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the quiet transitioned to a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The fighting within the ring matched the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow squarely on the chin in the initial stage, rising shakily to his position on the referee's count.
But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured early, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the pair landed punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
The victor edged the decision with official scores of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but each competitor were determined and brave, everything their inspiration the legend represented.
