UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming beginning to life under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output appeared to earn him a split decision in a tight ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But Parker had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a contest where the techniques never quite clicked, with frequent clinching marring the action.
The officials had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best display but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor stated in the ring as he was met by negative reactions from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers thought Parker, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second loss of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Claims Victory in Dull Affair
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent times through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of UK boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - possibly in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors ready to overcommit in a cagey opening few rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the cleaner rounds.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin during constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
The victor moves on, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Battle
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester fight to secure the continental championship.
The venue fell silent for a extremely emotional memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who died aged 46 in September.
It was the first major televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the final chime ended, the silence became a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout matched the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook flush on the face in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his feet on the eight count.
But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged soon, heavy swelling appearing under his orbital area as the pair traded powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
Arthur edged the decision with official scores of 114-114, close margin and clearer margin, but the two athletes were relentless and courageous, everything their inspiration the legend represented.
