UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive debut to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker had his moments, delivering effective single shots in a contest where the approaches failed to mesh, with frequent clinching marring the contest.
Two judges judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest showing but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor said in the arena as he was faced boos from the crowd.
The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th pro success.
Various analysts thought the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the win but the contender suffered the second loss of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Claims Victory in Dull Affair
His career development has stalled in recent years through management issues and long spells of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the future of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He started carefully, with neither fighter prepared to take risks in a cagey opening few rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to barely take the cleaner stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance decreased amid constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Contest
In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester contest to capture the European light heavyweight title.
The arena fell silent for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the stillness became a shout of "only one Hatton".
The action during the bout reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow flush on the chin in the early round, standing uncertainly to his position on the eight count.
But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged early, heavy swelling appearing under his eye as the duo traded powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
The victor barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and clearer margin, but each competitor were persistent and courageous, exactly what their hero the legend represented.
