UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing start to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round contest at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful individual punches in a fight where the techniques failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the action.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best display but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor commented in the arena as he was met by disapproval from the spectators.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers felt Parker, thirty-one, merited the decision but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Win in Dull Encounter
The fighter's advancement has slowed in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a calculated early stages.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to edge the more effective stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin amid regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were difficult to score. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Memorial Fuels All-Manchester Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester contest to secure the European light heavyweight championship.
The stadium became quiet for a extremely emotional homage before the fight as ten bells rang in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised fight night in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound ended, the quiet became a shout of "only one Hatton".
The fighting during the bout reflected the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook squarely on the chin in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his feet on the referee's count.
But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged quickly, heavy swelling developing under his face as the fighters landed hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
The victor narrowly won the verdict with judges scorecards of draw, close margin and clearer margin, but both fighters were determined and courageous, exactly what their hero Hatton represented.
