I found my character after all. I figured I'd still have to go to New Career, since I hadn't actually gone beyond the character creation, but after saving, I had to Load Career.
I am having fun with it now. Got myself a Judo/Muay Thai heavyweight. I think I'm 7-1-0 now. Got Cro Cop'd pretty nicely. By Cro Cop, appropriately enough. My first actual card win was KO of the night via Muay Thai whip, knee to the head.
For the sponsor logos on your trunks, I just loaded up 10 for THQ, since they give you 35 cred over 20 for everyone else. I don't know if it makes any difference with the size of the logo. And you'd think the more variety of sponsors you have, the more that'd help. But I guess not. Has anyone noticed any hidden depth to that whole process?