British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive debut to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker found success, delivering effective clean blows in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with excessive holding marring the action.
The officials had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best showing but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor said in the arena as he was faced boos from the spectators.
The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts thought the challenger, 31, deserved the victory but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Victory in Slow Match
His career development has slowed in recent times through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what seems like a last chance - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to take risks in a tentative opening few rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was participating in his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to barely take the cleaner periods.
The crowd's patience decreased during regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during clinches.
Parker closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor advances, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Fight
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a outstanding local rivalry battle to capture the continental title.
The venue grew hushed for a profoundly moving homage before the fight as 10 bells tolled in honor of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in September.
It was the first major televised fight night in the city since Hatton's death. As the final chime disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch squarely on the jaw in the early round, standing uncertainly to his position on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling forming under his eye as the duo landed hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor barely secured the verdict with scoring tallies of draw, narrow lead and 115-112, but each competitor were relentless and courageous, exactly what their hero the legend embodied.
