UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive start to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a close ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the styles never quite clicked, with constant grabbing spoiling the fight.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor stated in the ring as he was met by disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts believed the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second loss of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Claims Victory in Slow Affair
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent times through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a cagey opening few rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand in the contest, was making just his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a solid defense to edge the cleaner rounds.
The crowd's patience wore thin amid regular grabbing, with Parker going down various instances during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates Local Rivalry Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry battle to secure the continental belt.
The venue became quiet for a extremely emotional homage before the fight as ten bells sounded in honor of local hero Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound faded, the stillness transitioned to a chant of "there's just one Hatton".
The action during the bout matched the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow squarely on the face in the second round, standing uncertainly to his position on the referee's count.
But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was injured soon, heavy swelling appearing under his face as the duo landed punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
The victor edged the result with scoring tallies of 114-114, narrow lead and clearer margin, but each competitor were relentless and courageous, exactly what their idol Hatton stood for.
