UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker found success, delivering effective individual punches in a fight where the approaches didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching disrupting the contest.
The officials had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest display but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor commented in the ring as he was greeted with boos from the crowd.
The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts felt Parker, thirty-one, merited the win but the British boxer suffered the second loss of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Earns Win in Dull Encounter
Buatsi's progress has stalled in the past few years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective periods.
The spectators' acceptance decreased because of regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Inspires All-Manchester Fight
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester fight to secure the European light heavyweight championship.
The arena became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in memory of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised match card in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime faded, the silence transitioned to a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow directly to the jaw in the second round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured quickly, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the fighters exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the intensity seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the result with official scores of 114-114, close margin and clearer margin, but both fighters were persistent and brave, everything their idol Hatton embodied.
