British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing start to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close 10-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the styles failed to mesh, with constant grabbing disrupting the fight.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor commented in the ringside as he was greeted with disapproval from the audience.
The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th career victory.
Various analysts believed Parker, thirty-one, merited the victory but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Claims Win in Dull Encounter
Buatsi's progress has slowed 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 achieve expectations - perhaps in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with both competitors ready to take risks in a calculated initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was making just his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a solid defense to barely take the more effective rounds.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin during frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during grappling.
Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Memorial Motivates Local Rivalry Battle
In the secondary fight, Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry contest to capture the continental championship.
The stadium grew hushed for a profoundly moving homage before the fight as ten bells sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the final chime faded, the stillness became a shout of "only one Hatton".
The competition within the ring equaled the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow flush on the face in the initial stage, rising shakily to his footing on the eight count.
But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up early, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the pair landed powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over the full distance.
Arthur barely secured the verdict with scoring tallies of draw, close margin and 115-112, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their inspiration the legend represented.
