UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing start to his career under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, delivering effective single shots in a fight where the approaches didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching disrupting the fight.
Two judges had it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my best performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor stated in the arena as he was met by boos from the spectators.
The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers thought the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second setback of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Earns Triumph in Dull Match
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of British boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter ready to be aggressive in a calculated initial rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was participating in his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to edge the more effective stanzas.
The crowd's patience wore thin because of constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during clinches.
Parker closed well, but many rounds were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor advances, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Fight
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester contest to capture the continental belt.
The venue fell silent for a extremely emotional homage prior to the bout as ten bells rang in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the silence transitioned to a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes matched the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch squarely on the jaw in the initial stage, rising shakily to his position on the eight count.
But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up early, noticeable damage developing under his eye as the pair exchanged powerful shots.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
The victor narrowly won the result with official scores of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but both fighters were determined and brave, everything their inspiration the legend embodied.
