British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming debut to his career under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a majority decision in a tight ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger found success, landing some telling clean blows in a fight where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the fight.
The officials judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was faced boos from the crowd.
The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts felt Parker, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Claims Victory in Slow Encounter
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent times through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of British boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - maybe in what appears to be a last chance - under recent support.
He started carefully, with the two boxers ready to be aggressive in a tentative opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was making just his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a solid defense to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.
The audience's tolerance diminished during frequent holding, with the challenger going down various instances during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Fuels Local Rivalry Contest
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester battle to secure the continental title.
The stadium became quiet for a extremely emotional homage prior to the bout as ten bells tolled in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who died aged 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound faded, the quiet transitioned to a shout of "there's only one Hatton".
The fighting within the ring matched the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a significant blow squarely on the chin in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his feet on the count of eight.
But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged soon, noticeable damage developing under his orbital area as the fighters landed powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
The victor edged the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and courageous, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton stood for.
