British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a close 10-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful individual punches in a match where the approaches didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the fight.
The officials judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was met by disapproval from the spectators.
The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.
Various analysts felt Parker, 31, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Claims Win in Slow Encounter
His career development has stalled in recent years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with the two boxers ready to take risks in a tentative initial rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to edge the more effective rounds.
The crowd's patience diminished because of regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during grappling.
Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
The victor progresses, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Battle
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding local rivalry fight to secure the continental title.
The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who died aged 46 in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the stillness gave way to a shout of "there's only one Hatton".
The action within the ring equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch flush on the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged early, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the duo exchanged powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor narrowly won the decision with official scores of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but the two athletes were relentless and brave, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton embodied.
