British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing start to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a majority decision in a tight ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But Parker found success, connecting with powerful individual punches in a fight where the styles failed to mesh, with excessive holding spoiling the action.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi said in the ring as he was met by disapproval from the audience.
The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th pro success.
Various analysts felt the challenger, thirty-one, merited the victory but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Triumph in Dull Affair
His career development has plateaued in recent years through management issues and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of UK boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers prepared to take risks in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to edge the more effective periods.
The crowd's patience decreased during constant clinching, with Parker going down multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.
The victor progresses, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Inspires All-Manchester Contest
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry fight to capture the European light heavyweight championship.
The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as 10 bells sounded in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the city since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the silence gave way to a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes matched the emotion. Arthur was floored by a left hook flush on the chin in the second round, rising shakily to his position on the referee's count.
But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, noticeable damage appearing under his orbital area as the fighters landed hard punches.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.
The victor narrowly won the verdict with judges scorecards of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and courageous, exactly what their inspiration the legend represented.
