UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful individual punches in a match where the styles didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing marring the fight.
The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best display but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was met by negative reactions from the crowd.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers believed Parker, 31, merited the victory but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second defeat of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Earns Triumph in Slow Match
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent times through promotional disputes and long spells of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - maybe in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to edge the better periods.
The crowd's patience diminished amid constant clinching, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during clinches.
Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Hatton Tribute Motivates Manchester Derby Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a excellent local rivalry contest to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.
The venue fell silent for a extremely emotional tribute prior to the bout as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the last bell faded, the silence gave way to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook squarely on the chin in the second round, rising shakily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, heavy swelling appearing under his face as the fighters landed powerful shots.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
The victor edged the decision with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but each competitor were determined and brave, all the qualities their idol Hatton represented.
