UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output appeared to earn him a split decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful single shots in a match where the approaches failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the action.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best showing but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi said in the arena as he was met by negative reactions from the audience.
The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers believed the challenger, 31, deserved the win but the British boxer endured the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Claims Win in Uneventful Affair
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent years through management issues and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - possibly in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to be aggressive in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was competing in only his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to edge the more effective stanzas.
The audience's tolerance wore thin because of regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Motivates Manchester Derby Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding all-Manchester fight to capture the European light-heavyweight championship.
The arena became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial prior to the bout as a bell ceremony sounded in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised match card in the city since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound faded, the stillness transitioned to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action inside the ropes matched the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow squarely on the chin in the second round, rising shakily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured soon, significant bruising developing under his face as the fighters traded punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor barely secured the result with official scores of 114-114, close margin and clearer margin, but the two athletes were persistent and full of heart, everything their idol Hatton represented.
