UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing start to life under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a majority decision in a close ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger found success, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the styles didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the action.
Two judges judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was faced disapproval from the spectators.
The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers thought the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second loss of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Secures Victory in Uneventful Match
His career development has stalled in recent years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a calculated initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to edge the more effective periods.
The spectators' acceptance diminished amid frequent holding, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
The victor progresses, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates Local Rivalry Battle
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry contest to capture the European light-heavyweight title.
The stadium became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony rang in honor of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime faded, the stillness became a roar of "there's only one Hatton".
The competition during the bout equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow flush on the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the pair traded powerful shots.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the decision with scoring tallies of draw, narrow lead and 115-112, but the two athletes were relentless and courageous, all the qualities their idol Hatton represented.
