British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a contest where the techniques didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the fight.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best display but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi said in the ring as he was faced negative reactions from the audience.
The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers believed the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Earns Win in Slow Affair
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent times through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a calculated initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was competing in only his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to edge the more effective stanzas.
The crowd's patience diminished during regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates All-Manchester Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester fight to secure the European light-heavyweight belt.
The stadium became quiet for a profoundly moving tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in memory of local hero Hatton, who died aged 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime faded, the quiet transitioned to a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action during the bout matched the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow squarely on the jaw in the second round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the referee's count.
But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged quickly, significant bruising appearing under his face as the fighters traded hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor edged the verdict with official scores of draw, close margin and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and brave, exactly what their idol Hatton embodied.
