UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win 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 bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a match where the techniques failed to mesh, with excessive holding disrupting the fight.
The officials judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest showing but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was greeted with disapproval from the audience.
The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts felt Parker, 31, merited the decision but the British boxer endured the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Win in Dull Affair
His career development has stalled in recent times through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers ready to be aggressive in a tentative early stages.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was making just his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a solid defense to barely take the better rounds.
The audience's tolerance wore thin during constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during close exchanges.
Parker closed well, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
The victor progresses, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Hatton Tribute Inspires All-Manchester Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester battle to win the European light-heavyweight title.
The arena fell silent for a profoundly moving tribute before the fight as 10 bells rang in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in last month.
It was the premier televised fight night in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell ended, the quiet gave way to a shout of "there's only one Hatton".
The fighting within the ring reflected the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch flush on the chin in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the eight count.
But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the fighters traded powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the intensity hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor barely secured the decision with scoring tallies of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but both fighters were persistent and full of heart, all the qualities their idol Hatton embodied.
