British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive start to life under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a split decision in a competitive ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling single shots in a fight where the approaches failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the contest.
The officials had it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best performance but what do champions do? They win," the victor said in the ringside as he was faced disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Various analysts thought the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the win but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Earns Win in Uneventful Affair
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in the past few years through management issues and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what appears to be a last chance - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter prepared to be aggressive in a cagey early stages.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a solid defense to narrowly win the cleaner periods.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin because of frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during clinches.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were hard to judge. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates Manchester Derby Battle
In the supporting bout, Arthur beat Rea by split-decision in a excellent local rivalry fight to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.
The stadium became quiet for a deeply poignant tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells sounded in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime disappeared, the quiet transitioned to a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch directly to the face in the early round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the referee's count.
But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was injured soon, significant bruising forming under his eye as the duo traded powerful shots.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
The victor barely secured the result with official scores of draw, close margin and wider gap, but both fighters were determined and courageous, everything their idol Hatton stood for.
