UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing start to life under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger had his moments, connecting with powerful individual punches in a contest where the styles failed to mesh, with excessive holding marring the contest.
The officials had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor said in the ring as he was met by disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th career victory.
Various analysts felt Parker, thirty-one, merited the victory but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second setback of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Claims Win in Dull Affair
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent times through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner periods.
The audience's tolerance decreased because of frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during close exchanges.
Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - 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 dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Inspires All-Manchester Battle
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester battle to secure the continental belt.
The arena fell silent for a profoundly moving homage prior to the bout as ten bells sounded in honor of local hero Hatton, who died aged 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised match card in the city since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound faded, the silence gave way to a shout of "there's only one Hatton".
The competition during the bout matched the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow directly to the jaw in the second round, rising shakily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged soon, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the fighters landed powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
The victor barely secured the verdict with scoring tallies of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and full of heart, everything their inspiration Hatton embodied.
