British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger had his moments, connecting with powerful clean blows in a contest where the styles never quite clicked, with constant grabbing disrupting the fight.
The officials judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best performance but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was met by negative reactions from the spectators.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th career victory.
Various analysts thought the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Earns Win in Uneventful Match
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent times through contract problems and long spells of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the future of British boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a cagey early stages.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was participating in his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to edge the more effective rounds.
The spectators' acceptance decreased because of regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.
The victor progresses, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Contest
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester contest to capture the European light heavyweight belt.
The stadium fell silent for a profoundly moving tribute prior to the bout as 10 bells rang in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the final chime ended, the quiet transitioned to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the chin in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, noticeable damage appearing under his face as the fighters landed powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor narrowly won the decision with scoring tallies of 114-114, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were determined and brave, all the qualities their idol Hatton represented.
