UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing start to his career under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a split decision in a close 10-round contest at the boxing arena.
But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.
Two judges judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was faced negative reactions from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts felt Parker, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the contender endured the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Earns Victory in Slow Encounter
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent times through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter ready to overcommit in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to barely take the cleaner periods.
The spectators' acceptance diminished during frequent holding, with Parker going down various instances during clinches.
Parker closed well, but many rounds were hard to judge. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.
The victor advances, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a terrific local rivalry battle to secure the European light-heavyweight belt.
The venue grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony sounded in memory of the city's native Hatton, who died 46 years old in recently.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a chant of "only one Hatton".
The fighting within the ring equaled the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch directly to the face in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his feet on the referee's count.
But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, heavy swelling appearing under his orbital area as the pair landed punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of even score, narrow lead and wider gap, but the two athletes were relentless and brave, all the qualities their inspiration the legend embodied.
