UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close ten-round contest at the boxing arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling single shots in a contest where the techniques never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the contest.
Two judges had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest display but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was faced negative reactions from the spectators.
The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.
Various analysts felt the challenger, 31, merited the victory but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Secures Win in Dull Encounter
Buatsi's progress has slowed in the past few years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with neither fighter ready to take risks in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective periods.
The spectators' acceptance decreased because of constant clinching, with Parker going down various instances during grappling.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a outstanding local rivalry fight to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.
The arena grew hushed for a profoundly moving memorial ahead of the contest as 10 bells sounded in honor of local hero Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the final chime ended, the silence became a chant of "there's just one Hatton".
The action during the bout equaled the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch squarely on the face in the initial stage, rising shakily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, significant bruising forming under his eye as the duo traded powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
The victor narrowly won the result with official scores of draw, close margin and 115-112, but the two athletes were determined and full of heart, everything their idol Hatton stood for.
