UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing beginning to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a majority decision in a tight 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But Parker had his moments, delivering effective clean blows in a match where the techniques failed to mesh, with excessive holding spoiling the action.
The officials judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best display but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor commented in the arena as he was greeted with boos from the audience.
The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts thought the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second loss of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Earns Triumph in Slow Encounter
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with both competitors willing to overcommit in a cagey opening few rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was participating in his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.
The crowd's patience decreased during constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.
The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Battle
In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to win the continental title.
The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial before the fight as ten bells tolled in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised match card in the city since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound ended, the quiet became a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes matched the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the early round, standing uncertainly to his position on the count of eight.
But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged quickly, significant bruising developing under his face as the fighters landed punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, narrow lead and wider gap, but the two athletes were persistent and brave, all the qualities their hero the legend represented.
