UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming start to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the fight.
Two judges scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest display but how do champions respond? They win," the victor stated in the ringside as he was greeted with disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th career victory.
Various analysts thought Parker, thirty-one, merited the decision but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Victory in Slow Match
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent times through contract problems and long spells of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a tentative opening few rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was competing in only his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner rounds.
The spectators' acceptance diminished during constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during clinches.
Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. However, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Motivates Manchester Derby Fight
In the supporting bout, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific all-Manchester contest to win the European light heavyweight belt.
The arena became quiet for a extremely emotional homage ahead of the contest as 10 bells rang in memory of the city's native Hatton, who died aged 46 in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound ended, the silence gave way to a shout of "there's just one Hatton".
The competition within the ring equaled the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch directly to the jaw in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the count of eight.
But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the pair landed punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of draw, 115-113 and clearer margin, but each competitor were determined and brave, exactly what their hero Hatton represented.
