UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming beginning to life under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, delivering effective single shots in a match where the styles never quite clicked, with excessive holding spoiling the action.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was faced negative reactions from the spectators.
The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th career victory.
Various analysts felt the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the win but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Secures Victory in Slow Match
Buatsi's progress has stalled in the past few years through promotional disputes and considerable time of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors ready to be aggressive in a calculated opening few rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to edge the better stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance decreased amid constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during clinches.
Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor advances, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Inspires Manchester Derby Battle
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester contest to win the European light-heavyweight championship.
The arena became quiet for a deeply poignant homage before the fight as a bell ceremony sounded in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's death. As the final chime disappeared, the quiet gave way to a shout of "only one Hatton".
The competition within the ring reflected the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook flush on the jaw in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged soon, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the pair landed powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over the full distance.
Arthur edged the verdict with judges scorecards of draw, close margin and clearer margin, but the two athletes were determined and courageous, everything their hero Hatton embodied.
