UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing start to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker found success, landing some telling single shots in a contest where the techniques never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.
The officials judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my best showing but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor stated in the arena as he was greeted with negative reactions from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers believed Parker, thirty-one, merited the victory but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Triumph in Dull Affair
His career development has stalled in recent years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter prepared to be aggressive in a tentative opening few rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance decreased amid frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.
Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Inspires Local Rivalry Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry contest to win the continental title.
The arena grew hushed for a deeply poignant tribute before the fight as ten bells tolled in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the city since Hatton's passing. As the last bell ended, the quiet became a chant of "only one Hatton".
The competition during the bout matched the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook directly to the chin in the second round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the eight count.
But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured soon, noticeable damage developing under his face as the fighters traded hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
Arthur barely secured the result with official scores of even score, narrow lead and clearer margin, but the two athletes were persistent and brave, everything their hero the legend embodied.
