UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive start to life under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger found success, delivering effective single shots in a fight where the styles didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching spoiling the fight.
The officials judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was greeted with boos from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.
Various analysts felt the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the win but the contender experienced the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Secures Triumph in Slow Encounter
The fighter's advancement has stalled in the past few years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with the two boxers prepared to take risks in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective rounds.
The crowd's patience wore thin amid regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels Local Rivalry Contest
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by split-decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester contest to capture the European light heavyweight belt.
The venue fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute prior to the bout as 10 bells tolled in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in September.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound faded, the quiet gave way to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the face in the second round, rising shakily to his position on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up early, noticeable damage developing under his face as the pair traded powerful shots.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
The victor narrowly won the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, narrow lead and wider gap, but both fighters were determined and brave, exactly what their idol the legend represented.
