UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing start to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level likely gained him a split decision in a competitive 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful individual punches in a fight where the techniques failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the fight.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor said in the ring as he was faced disapproval from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts felt Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Claims Triumph in Uneventful Affair
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent times through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the future of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a calculated initial rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to edge the more effective stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance diminished amid constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.
Parker closed well, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.
The victor progresses, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates Manchester Derby Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to win the European light heavyweight championship.
The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in September.
It was the premier televised match card in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell ended, the quiet became a roar of "there's just one Hatton".
The action during the bout equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the initial stage, rising shakily to his position on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured early, significant bruising developing under his eye as the pair traded hard punches.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
The victor barely secured the result with scoring tallies of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but each competitor were determined and courageous, exactly what their idol the legend represented.
