British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective individual punches in a match where the approaches didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching marring the action.
The officials judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was met by disapproval from the audience.
The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers believed Parker, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Earns Triumph in Dull Match
His career development has stalled in recent years through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter ready to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to edge the better periods.
The audience's tolerance diminished amid constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during clinches.
The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. However, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Contest
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester contest to capture the continental title.
The arena became quiet for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as 10 bells sounded in memory of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in recently.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the final chime disappeared, the silence became a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a left hook directly to the face in the second round, rising shakily to his position on the eight count.
But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured quickly, noticeable damage developing under his orbital area as the fighters landed punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
The victor narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, narrow lead and wider gap, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, everything their idol Hatton stood for.
