British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive start to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a split decision in a tight 10-round bout at the boxing arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling clean blows in a fight where the styles failed to mesh, with frequent clinching spoiling the contest.
The officials scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my best performance but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor commented in the arena as he was faced boos from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers believed Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Claims Win in Dull Match
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent times through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the future of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to realize his potential - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with both competitors willing to overcommit in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to barely take the cleaner rounds.
The crowd's patience diminished amid constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.
The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just a single round.
The victor advances, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Fight
In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry battle to win the European light-heavyweight belt.
The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional memorial ahead of the contest as ten bells sounded in memory of the city's native Hatton, who died at age 46 in September.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime faded, the silence transitioned to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch directly to the face in the second round, rising shakily to his feet on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured soon, noticeable damage developing under his face as the fighters exchanged powerful shots.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the result with official scores of 114-114, narrow lead and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and courageous, exactly what their inspiration Hatton stood for.
