British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming start to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a majority decision in a tight 10-round contest at the boxing arena.
But the challenger had his moments, connecting with powerful clean blows in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching disrupting the fight.
The officials had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was faced boos from the crowd.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts believed Parker, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second defeat of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Earns Victory in Dull Encounter
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers prepared to be aggressive in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was making just his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to barely take the cleaner rounds.
The audience's tolerance decreased during constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were difficult to score. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to capture the European light heavyweight title.
The venue grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as 10 bells rang in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell disappeared, the silence gave way to a shout of "there's only one Hatton".
The competition within the ring reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch directly to the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up early, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the duo landed powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and brave, all the qualities their hero Hatton represented.
