UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing beginning to life under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round fight at the boxing arena.
But the challenger had his moments, connecting with powerful individual punches in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the action.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was faced boos from the spectators.
The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th career victory.
Various analysts believed the challenger, 31, merited the win but the contender endured the second setback of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Secures Win in Uneventful Match
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of British boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to overcommit in a calculated initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to barely take the more effective periods.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin amid constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Hatton Tribute Fuels Manchester Derby Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent all-Manchester fight to capture the European light-heavyweight championship.
The stadium became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial prior to the bout as ten bells sounded in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound ended, the quiet gave way to a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The fighting during the bout matched the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook flush on the chin in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured soon, significant bruising appearing under his face as the duo landed hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur edged the result with scoring tallies of draw, narrow lead and wider gap, but the two athletes were relentless and brave, all the qualities their inspiration the legend stood for.
