UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful single shots in a fight where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the fight.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my best showing but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was met by disapproval from the audience.
The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers believed Parker, 31, merited the win but the British boxer suffered the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Claims Triumph in Dull Affair
His career development has slowed in recent times through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers ready to take risks in a calculated early stages.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was making just his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to edge the better rounds.
The audience's tolerance diminished because of frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Hatton Homage Motivates All-Manchester Contest
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a outstanding local rivalry fight to secure the European light heavyweight championship.
The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant memorial before the fight as ten bells tolled in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound ended, the quiet became a shout of "there's just one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes matched the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook directly to the jaw in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his position on the referee's count.
But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged quickly, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the fighters landed punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
Arthur barely secured the verdict with scoring tallies of draw, narrow lead and 115-112, but both fighters were relentless and brave, exactly what their idol the legend stood for.
