British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming beginning to his career under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, delivering effective individual punches in a match where the techniques didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching marring the contest.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi said in the arena as he was greeted with boos from the spectators.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th pro success.
Various analysts felt Parker, 31, merited the victory but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Secures Win in Dull Match
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors ready to be aggressive in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was participating in his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner rounds.
The audience's tolerance wore thin during constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during clinches.
Parker closed well, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Fight
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a excellent local rivalry fight to secure the European light heavyweight championship.
The venue grew hushed for a deeply poignant tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells sounded in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in last month.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the final chime ended, the stillness gave way to a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes matched the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook directly to the face in the second round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.
But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was injured quickly, significant bruising appearing under his face as the fighters traded punishing blows.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor edged the decision with official scores of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but each competitor were persistent and full of heart, exactly what their idol Hatton embodied.
