British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming start to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a split decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, landing some telling clean blows in a fight where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching marring the contest.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest display but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was faced boos from the crowd.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts believed Parker, 31, merited the win but the British boxer experienced the second loss of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Secures Win in Slow Match
His career development has plateaued in recent times through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers prepared to take risks in a cagey opening few rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was competing in only his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to narrowly win the better periods.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin because of regular grabbing, with Parker going down various instances during grappling.
Parker closed well, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Hatton Tribute Inspires Manchester Derby Fight
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a terrific local rivalry fight to secure the European light-heavyweight title.
The arena became quiet for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in September.
It was the premier televised match card in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound disappeared, the silence gave way to a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting within the ring reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch squarely on the chin in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the count of eight.
But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the fighters traded punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the pace hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur barely secured the result with official scores of 114-114, narrow lead and wider gap, but both fighters were relentless and brave, everything their hero the legend embodied.
