UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a tight ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling single shots in a contest where the styles never quite clicked, with excessive holding marring the action.
The officials judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best performance but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor said in the arena as he was faced boos from the spectators.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers felt the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second setback of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Earns Victory in Dull Affair
His career development has plateaued in the past few years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a tentative early stages.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a solid defense to edge the cleaner rounds.
The crowd's patience wore thin during constant clinching, with Parker going down multiple occasions during clinches.
Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor advances, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Fight
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a terrific local rivalry contest to win the continental championship.
The venue grew hushed for a deeply poignant memorial ahead of the contest as 10 bells sounded in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised fight night in the city since Hatton's passing. As the final chime faded, the silence gave way to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".
The action within the ring reflected the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a left hook squarely on the jaw in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his position on the count of eight.
But the red-colored attire of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged early, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the fighters exchanged punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
The victor barely secured the decision with official scores of 114-114, narrow lead and wider gap, but the two athletes were determined and brave, all the qualities their hero Hatton represented.
