British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing start to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker had his moments, delivering effective individual punches in a fight where the techniques never quite clicked, with excessive holding spoiling the fight.
Two judges scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They win," the victor said in the arena as he was greeted with negative reactions from the spectators.
The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the contender endured the second defeat of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Earns Win in Uneventful Match
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and extended periods of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the future of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a last chance - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers ready to be aggressive in a calculated opening few rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to edge the more effective stanzas.
The audience's tolerance diminished because of constant clinching, with Parker going down multiple occasions during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires All-Manchester Battle
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester contest to secure the European light-heavyweight title.
The stadium fell silent for a extremely emotional homage before the fight as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the final chime disappeared, the silence transitioned to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".
The fighting within the ring reflected the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook squarely on the face in the second round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.
But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the duo traded punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the pace hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the decision with official scores of even score, close margin and clearer margin, but the two athletes were persistent and full of heart, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton stood for.
