UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive debut to life under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But Parker found success, delivering effective single shots in a match where the approaches failed to mesh, with frequent clinching marring the action.
The officials judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best showing but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor stated in the arena as he was met by negative reactions from the audience.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers thought Parker, 31, deserved the win but the British boxer experienced the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Victory in Slow Encounter
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent times through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with both competitors willing to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to barely take the better rounds.
The crowd's patience wore thin because of regular grabbing, with Parker going down multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires Local Rivalry Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific local rivalry contest to win the continental championship.
The stadium fell silent for a profoundly moving tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony rang in memory of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound faded, the quiet became a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The fighting within the ring equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow flush on the chin in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his position on the referee's count.
But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, significant bruising forming under his face as the pair exchanged powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
The victor barely secured the result with judges scorecards of draw, close margin and clearer margin, but both fighters were persistent and brave, exactly what their inspiration the legend stood for.
