UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive beginning to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a close 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker found success, landing some telling single shots in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with excessive holding marring the fight.
The officials judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor commented in the arena as he was greeted with boos from the spectators.
The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts thought Parker, 31, merited the win but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Earns Win in Uneventful Affair
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what appears to be a last chance - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors ready to overcommit in a calculated early stages.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to barely take the cleaner rounds.
The spectators' acceptance decreased because of regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Inspires Local Rivalry Contest
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific local rivalry contest to capture the European light heavyweight belt.
The arena became quiet for a deeply poignant tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells tolled in memory of the city's native Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in recently.
It was the premier televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the final chime disappeared, the silence became a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting during the bout matched the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch flush on the chin in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his position on the referee's count.
But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising appearing under his face as the duo exchanged punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor edged the decision with scoring tallies of draw, 115-113 and clearer margin, but the two athletes were relentless and brave, everything their hero the legend stood for.
