UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective single shots in a fight where the styles failed to mesh, with excessive holding disrupting the fight.
The officials judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best showing but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor commented in the ringside as he was met by disapproval from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th career victory.
Various analysts believed Parker, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second setback of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Earns Victory in Slow Match
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was competing in only his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to narrowly win the more effective periods.
The audience's tolerance decreased amid constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Fight
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a terrific local rivalry contest to capture the European light-heavyweight championship.
The stadium fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony sounded in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who died aged 46 in September.
It was the first major televised match card in the city since Hatton's death. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness gave way to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout reflected the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch directly to the face in the second round, rising shakily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, noticeable damage developing under his orbital area as the fighters exchanged hard punches.
The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.
The victor narrowly won the result with scoring tallies of draw, close margin and clearer margin, but each competitor were relentless and brave, all the qualities their idol the legend represented.
