British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing debut to life under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a split decision in a tight 10-round bout at the boxing arena.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful single shots in a contest where the techniques failed to mesh, with constant grabbing disrupting the contest.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor said in the arena as he was faced boos from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers felt the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer experienced the second setback of his 28-match career.
The Champion Claims Victory in Slow Encounter
His career development has plateaued in recent years through management issues and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of British boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter ready to overcommit in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was participating in his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to barely take the more effective periods.
The audience's tolerance wore thin amid regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during clinches.
The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Hatton Homage Fuels Manchester Derby Contest
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent all-Manchester battle to secure the European light heavyweight belt.
The stadium grew hushed for a deeply poignant tribute prior to the bout as 10 bells tolled in honor of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the city since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound faded, the stillness became a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action during the bout equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow squarely on the jaw in the initial stage, rising shakily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising developing under his face as the pair landed hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
The victor narrowly won the verdict with official scores of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but each competitor were determined and full of heart, exactly what their inspiration the legend stood for.
