British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a split decision in a competitive 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker had his moments, landing some telling single shots in a fight where the styles didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching marring the action.
Two judges had it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best performance but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi said in the arena as he was met by negative reactions from the crowd.
The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.
Various analysts felt the challenger, 31, deserved the decision but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Claims Victory in Dull Affair
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent years through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the next star of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to overcommit in a tentative opening few rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to narrowly win the better rounds.
The spectators' acceptance diminished amid constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Hatton Memorial Inspires All-Manchester Fight
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester contest to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.
The venue fell silent for a extremely emotional tribute prior to the bout as ten bells tolled in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in recently.
It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the silence became a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch squarely on the face in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up quickly, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the pair traded hard punches.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of draw, close margin and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and brave, exactly what their inspiration Hatton stood for.
