British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing start to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a split decision in a competitive 10-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But Parker had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with constant grabbing disrupting the contest.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best display but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was met by negative reactions from the audience.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, 31, merited the victory but the contender endured the second loss of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Earns Triumph in Dull Encounter
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in the past few years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what appears to be a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers willing to take risks in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the better periods.
The crowd's patience diminished amid constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor several times during clinches.
Parker closed well, but multiple periods were hard to judge. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor advances, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Memorial Fuels All-Manchester Contest
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a excellent all-Manchester battle to capture the continental championship.
The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute prior to the bout as a bell ceremony tolled in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime faded, the silence became a chant of "only one Hatton".
The fighting within the ring reflected the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch squarely on the jaw in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.
But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up early, noticeable damage developing under his orbital area as the duo traded punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
The victor barely secured the decision with official scores of draw, 115-113 and clearer margin, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, everything their hero the legend represented.
