British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the techniques failed to mesh, with frequent clinching marring the fight.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor stated in the arena as he was faced boos from the audience.
The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts believed Parker, 31, merited the victory but the contender suffered the second loss of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Claims Win in Dull Affair
His career development has slowed in recent years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with both competitors ready to be aggressive in a cagey opening few rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was competing in only his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.
The crowd's patience diminished amid regular grabbing, with Parker going down various instances during close exchanges.
The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor progresses, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates Local Rivalry Fight
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester battle to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.
The arena fell silent for a profoundly moving tribute ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony rang in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who died aged 46 in September.
It was the premier televised fight night in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet became a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch directly to the face in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged early, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the duo landed punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the intensity hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
Arthur barely secured the result with judges scorecards of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but each competitor were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their hero Hatton stood for.
