British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming debut to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a majority decision in a tight ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the styles never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the contest.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my finest display but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was faced disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts felt Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the British boxer suffered the second loss of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Earns Triumph in Dull Affair
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of British boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with the two boxers ready to take risks in a cagey early stages.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was participating in his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the more effective stanzas.
The audience's tolerance wore thin during frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires Local Rivalry Contest
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester battle to capture the European light heavyweight championship.
The arena became quiet for a extremely emotional homage ahead of the contest as 10 bells rang in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised match card in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness gave way to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring matched the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch flush on the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the red-colored attire of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up early, heavy swelling forming under his orbital area as the fighters landed hard punches.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor barely secured the decision with scoring tallies of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but the two athletes were relentless and courageous, all the qualities their idol Hatton represented.
