UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive beginning to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output seemingly secured him a majority decision in a tight ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful individual punches in a contest where the styles failed to mesh, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest display but what defines champions? They win," the victor commented in the ringside as he was faced negative reactions from the crowd.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.
Various analysts felt the challenger, 31, deserved the decision but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second loss of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Earns Win in Dull Affair
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent times through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand during the bout, was participating in his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a solid defense to barely take the cleaner stanzas.
The crowd's patience wore thin amid frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during clinches.
Parker closed well, but many rounds were hard to judge. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
The victor advances, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Hatton Homage Inspires Local Rivalry Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester battle to win the European light-heavyweight belt.
The venue grew hushed for a deeply poignant memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of local hero Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound faded, the quiet became a roar of "there's just one Hatton".
The action during the bout reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook squarely on the face in the second round, rising shakily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured soon, noticeable damage forming under his orbital area as the duo exchanged powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over the full distance.
Arthur narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of draw, 115-113 and 115-112, but the two athletes were relentless and brave, everything their inspiration the legend embodied.
