British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing beginning to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close ten-round fight at the boxing arena.
But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a contest where the techniques didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching disrupting the fight.
The officials judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was faced negative reactions from the audience.
The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts felt Parker, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second loss of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Secures Triumph in Uneventful Match
Buatsi's progress has stalled in the past few years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He started carefully, with both competitors ready to be aggressive in a cagey opening few rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to barely take the more effective periods.
The crowd's patience diminished during regular grabbing, with Parker going down multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates Manchester Derby Fight
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry fight to win the European light heavyweight belt.
The stadium grew hushed for a deeply poignant tribute prior to the bout as 10 bells sounded in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime faded, the stillness became a chant of "only one Hatton".
The fighting during the bout equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow directly to the face in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured soon, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the pair landed punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the verdict with official scores of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but the two athletes were relentless and brave, everything their inspiration the legend stood for.
