UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive start to his career under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a split decision in a close ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker found success, landing some telling single shots in a contest where the styles failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the action.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor stated in the arena as he was faced disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers thought Parker, 31, deserved the win but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Victory in Slow Affair
His career development has stalled in the past few years through management issues and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to take risks in a calculated early stages.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was participating in his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to narrowly win the better periods.
The spectators' acceptance decreased amid regular grabbing, with Parker going down multiple occasions during close exchanges.
The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Battle
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a outstanding local rivalry battle to secure the European light heavyweight belt.
The arena became quiet for a extremely emotional homage before the fight as ten bells rang in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in September.
It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness gave way to a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The action during the bout equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow squarely on the face in the second round, rising shakily to his position on the count of eight.
But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged quickly, heavy swelling developing under his face as the duo landed punishing blows.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.
The victor edged the verdict with official scores of draw, 115-113 and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and courageous, exactly what their idol Hatton stood for.
