British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a split decision in a close ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker had his moments, delivering effective single shots in a match where the techniques failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the contest.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my best performance but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor said in the arena as he was faced negative reactions from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th career victory.
Various analysts felt Parker, 31, merited the victory but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Earns Victory in Uneventful Match
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent times through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with neither fighter prepared to take risks in a cagey early stages.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was participating in his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to edge the more effective stanzas.
The audience's tolerance wore thin amid constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during clinches.
Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Hatton Homage Motivates Local Rivalry Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a terrific local rivalry contest to capture the continental title.
The venue grew hushed for a extremely emotional homage before the fight as 10 bells tolled in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell ended, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting during the bout equaled the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook squarely on the chin in the initial stage, rising shakily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up early, noticeable damage forming under his face as the pair exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
The victor barely secured the decision with official scores of 114-114, narrow lead and wider gap, but the two athletes were determined and brave, exactly what their hero Hatton embodied.
