UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker had his moments, landing some telling clean blows in a match where the approaches failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the action.
Two judges scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best showing but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor stated in the ringside as he was met by boos from the spectators.
The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th career victory.
Various analysts thought Parker, 31, merited the win but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second loss of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Claims Victory in Slow Affair
His career development has stalled in recent times through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to be aggressive in a tentative opening few rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was making just his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to edge the better periods.
The crowd's patience diminished during frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor several times during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
The victor advances, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Motivates All-Manchester Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a terrific local rivalry fight to win the European light-heavyweight title.
The stadium fell silent for a profoundly moving homage prior to the bout as ten bells sounded in honor of the city's native Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in last month.
It was the premier televised fight night in the location since Hatton's passing. As the final chime faded, the quiet became a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting within the ring matched the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch flush on the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in rival City blue - was damaged soon, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the fighters landed hard punches.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
The victor narrowly won the result with scoring tallies of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but each competitor were determined and courageous, exactly what their hero the legend represented.
