UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming start to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a majority decision in a close 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But Parker had his moments, landing some telling single shots in a fight where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the fight.
The officials judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what do champions do? They win," the victor said in the ring as he was greeted with negative reactions from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts felt Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Victory in Uneventful Match
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent years through management issues and long spells of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with neither fighter prepared to be aggressive in a tentative initial rounds.
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 fight at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective periods.
The crowd's patience wore thin during constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but many rounds were difficult to score. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Contest
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding local rivalry fight to win the European light heavyweight title.
The stadium became quiet for a profoundly moving memorial ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony rang in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in September.
It was the premier televised match card in the location since Hatton's passing. As the final chime disappeared, the stillness became a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action inside the ropes matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch directly to the jaw in the initial stage, rising shakily to his feet on the eight count.
But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the duo exchanged punishing blows.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
The victor barely secured the decision with scoring tallies of draw, 115-113 and clearer margin, but each competitor were relentless and courageous, all the qualities their hero the legend stood for.
