UK 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 activity level likely gained him a split decision in a competitive ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling single shots in a fight where the approaches failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the action.
The officials scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best display but how do champions respond? They win," the victor said in the arena as he was met by disapproval from the spectators.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the contender suffered the second setback of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Claims Victory in Slow Match
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent years through contract problems and extended periods of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers ready to overcommit in a tentative opening few rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand in the contest, was making just his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to barely take the cleaner stanzas.
The crowd's patience decreased amid frequent holding, with the challenger going down various instances during clinches.
Parker closed well, but many rounds were challenging to assess. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Hatton Tribute Motivates Local Rivalry Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester battle to win the continental championship.
The stadium fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial ahead of the contest as ten bells sounded in memory of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in September.
It was the first major televised fight night in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the silence gave way to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action during the bout reflected the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow flush on the chin in the second round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the count of eight.
But the red-colored attire of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured soon, heavy swelling appearing under his orbital area as the fighters landed hard punches.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the pace hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the verdict with official scores of 114-114, 115-113 and 115-112, but each competitor were determined and courageous, exactly what their hero the legend embodied.
