UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling single shots in a fight where the approaches failed to mesh, with frequent clinching disrupting the action.
Two judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest display but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.
Various analysts felt Parker, 31, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Secures Win in Dull Encounter
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent years through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the future of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers willing to take risks in a calculated early stages.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was participating in his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the cleaner periods.
The audience's tolerance decreased during regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.
The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi 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 Tribute Motivates Manchester Derby Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent all-Manchester contest to win the European light heavyweight championship.
The stadium grew hushed for a profoundly moving tribute prior to the bout as ten bells tolled in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in September.
It was the first major televised match card in the city since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the quiet gave way to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring matched the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook directly to the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the count of eight.
But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured quickly, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the duo exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over the full distance.
Arthur narrowly won the result with scoring tallies of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and brave, exactly what their inspiration Hatton represented.
