UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing beginning to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level likely gained him a majority decision in a close ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But the challenger had his moments, connecting with powerful clean blows in a contest where the approaches failed to mesh, with frequent clinching marring the contest.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was faced disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts thought the challenger, thirty-one, merited the decision but the contender endured the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Victory in Dull Match
His career development has plateaued in recent times through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter prepared to be aggressive in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the cleaner rounds.
The crowd's patience wore thin during constant clinching, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates Local Rivalry Fight
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a outstanding all-Manchester contest to secure the European light heavyweight title.
The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute prior to the bout as a bell ceremony sounded in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the quiet became a roar of "only one Hatton".
The competition 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 position on the count of eight.
But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up quickly, significant bruising forming under his face as the fighters traded hard punches.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
The victor barely secured the decision with scoring tallies of even score, close margin and 115-112, but the two athletes were determined and brave, everything their hero Hatton stood for.
