UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a majority decision in a close ten-round contest at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful individual punches in a contest where the styles failed to mesh, with excessive holding spoiling the contest.
The officials judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best display but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was greeted with disapproval from the spectators.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.
Various analysts believed Parker, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the contender endured the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Victory in Slow Encounter
His career development has slowed in recent times through management issues and extended periods of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what appears to be a last chance - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to overcommit in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was making just his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance diminished amid constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Inspires Local Rivalry Contest
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester fight to capture the continental belt.
The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional homage before the fight as ten bells rang in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the location since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound faded, the quiet became a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition within the ring equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow squarely on the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his position on the eight count.
But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was injured soon, heavy swelling forming under his eye as the pair landed powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
Arthur edged the result with scoring tallies of even score, close margin and wider gap, but the two athletes were determined and brave, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton stood for.
