British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a match where the styles didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing disrupting the fight.
Two judges scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my best showing but how do champions respond? They win," the victor stated in the ringside as he was greeted with disapproval from the spectators.
The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.
Various analysts thought the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer endured the second setback of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Earns Win in Slow Affair
The fighter's advancement has slowed in the past few years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of British boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what seems like a last chance - under recent support.
He started carefully, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a tentative early stages.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to edge the better rounds.
The audience's tolerance decreased because of constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during grappling.
Parker closed well, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor advances, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Motivates Manchester Derby Contest
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester battle to secure the European light heavyweight championship.
The arena became quiet for a profoundly moving memorial ahead of the contest as 10 bells tolled in honor of local hero Hatton, who died at age 46 in September.
It was the premier televised match card in the city since Hatton's death. As the final chime disappeared, the quiet gave way to a roar of "only one Hatton".
The action inside the ropes equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch squarely on the jaw in the second round, rising shakily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, noticeable damage developing under his face as the duo exchanged punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
Arthur edged the decision with scoring tallies of 114-114, 115-113 and wider gap, but both fighters were persistent and courageous, all the qualities their hero the legend embodied.
