British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a split decision in a close 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling single shots in a contest where the approaches failed to mesh, with frequent clinching marring the action.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest display but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor stated in the ring as he was greeted with boos from the audience.
The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts thought Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the contender experienced the second loss of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Secures Triumph in Slow Affair
The fighter's advancement has slowed in the past few years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors ready to take risks in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to edge the better periods.
The audience's tolerance decreased because of constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor progresses, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Homage Fuels All-Manchester Battle
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry battle to capture the continental championship.
The arena grew hushed for a deeply poignant memorial ahead of the contest as 10 bells tolled in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised fight night in the city since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound ended, the quiet transitioned to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting during the bout equaled the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow directly to the face in the second round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the referee's count.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, heavy swelling appearing under his orbital area as the pair traded punishing blows.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
The victor barely secured the result with scoring tallies of even score, close margin and 115-112, but the two athletes were determined and courageous, everything their idol Hatton embodied.
