British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming debut to his career under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round fight at the boxing arena.
But the challenger had his moments, connecting with powerful single shots in a fight where the techniques didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the action.
Two judges judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what defines champions? They win," the victor said in the arena as he was met by boos from the spectators.
The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Secures Triumph in Slow Match
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with neither fighter ready to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to narrowly win the more effective periods.
The audience's tolerance diminished during frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during clinches.
The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires All-Manchester Contest
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry contest to secure the continental title.
The stadium became quiet for a profoundly moving homage before the fight as a bell ceremony rang in honor of local hero Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised fight night in the city since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound faded, the silence gave way to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring reflected the emotion. Arthur was floored by a significant blow flush on the face in the second round, standing uncertainly to his position on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged early, significant bruising forming under his orbital area as the pair traded hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the decision with scoring tallies of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but both fighters were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their inspiration the legend stood for.
