British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a majority decision in a close 10-round fight at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful clean blows in a match where the approaches failed to mesh, with excessive holding marring the fight.
The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest display but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was faced boos from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.
Various analysts believed the challenger, 31, deserved the win but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Triumph in Dull Match
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and long spells of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the future of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what appears to be a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a calculated early stages.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was making just his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to edge the cleaner rounds.
The spectators' acceptance decreased amid frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during grappling.
The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor progresses, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Inspires Local Rivalry Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester fight to capture the continental title.
The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional homage ahead of the contest as 10 bells tolled in memory of the city's native Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the stillness became a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes matched the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch squarely on the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was injured early, heavy swelling appearing under his eye as the duo traded punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
Arthur barely secured the decision with official scores of draw, close margin and clearer margin, but both fighters were persistent and courageous, all the qualities their idol Hatton stood for.
