British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming debut to life under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a close 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But Parker found success, landing some telling single shots in a fight where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the fight.
The officials had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi said in the ring as he was faced negative reactions from the audience.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers believed the challenger, thirty-one, merited the victory but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Secures Triumph in Dull Encounter
His career development has slowed in recent years through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers ready to be aggressive in a tentative opening few rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was participating in his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to narrowly win the cleaner rounds.
The crowd's patience wore thin because of constant clinching, with the challenger going down various instances during close exchanges.
Parker closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Battle
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent all-Manchester battle to win the European light heavyweight championship.
The stadium fell silent for a deeply poignant memorial prior to the bout as 10 bells sounded in memory of local hero Hatton, who died at age 46 in September.
It was the premier televised fight night in the city since Hatton's death. As the final chime ended, the quiet transitioned to a roar of "only one Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes matched the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged early, significant bruising appearing under his orbital area as the pair exchanged punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over the full distance.
Arthur barely secured the result with scoring tallies of even score, close margin and clearer margin, but each competitor were relentless and full of heart, exactly what their hero the legend stood for.
