UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing start to his career under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a split decision in a close 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger had his moments, connecting with powerful individual punches in a contest where the approaches failed to mesh, with excessive holding marring the contest.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was faced negative reactions from the spectators.
The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.
Various analysts felt the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the win but the contender experienced the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Win in Slow Encounter
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent times through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter prepared to take risks in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, 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 made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to edge the more effective rounds.
The audience's tolerance diminished during regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during clinches.
Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
The victor advances, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Battle
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry fight to win the continental championship.
The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional memorial ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony rang in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised fight night in the location since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound ended, the stillness became a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The action during the bout reflected the emotion. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch directly to the jaw in the initial stage, rising shakily to his position on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, noticeable damage developing under his face as the duo landed hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur edged the decision with scoring tallies of even score, close margin and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and full of heart, exactly what their hero the legend embodied.
