British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive debut to life under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output seemingly secured him a majority decision in a tight ten-round contest at the boxing arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective single shots in a contest where the techniques failed to mesh, with constant grabbing disrupting the fight.
Two judges had it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi said in the ring as he was faced disapproval from the audience.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th pro success.
Various analysts felt Parker, 31, deserved the decision but the contender experienced the second setback of his 28-match career.
The Champion Earns Victory in Uneventful Affair
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent years through management issues and extended periods of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the future of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to take risks in a tentative opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand in the contest, was participating in his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had stayed in contention, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to edge the more effective rounds.
The spectators' acceptance diminished during regular grabbing, with the challenger going down various instances during grappling.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor progresses, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Motivates Manchester Derby Contest
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to capture the continental championship.
The stadium became quiet for a extremely emotional memorial before the fight as 10 bells rang in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in recently.
It was the first major televised match card in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the quiet transitioned to a chant of "only one Hatton".
The action during the bout equaled the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook flush on the chin in the early round, standing uncertainly to his position on the eight count.
But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged soon, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the fighters landed hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the intensity hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
Arthur edged the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but each competitor were relentless and courageous, all the qualities their hero Hatton stood for.
