British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to life under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round fight at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful single shots in a match where the techniques failed to mesh, with excessive holding disrupting the fight.
The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my best display but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor commented in the ringside as he was greeted with negative reactions from the spectators.
The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th pro success.
Various analysts believed the challenger, 31, deserved the victory but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second defeat of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Earns Victory in Uneventful Encounter
His career development has slowed in the past few years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers prepared to take risks in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to barely take the more effective rounds.
The spectators' acceptance diminished during frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during clinches.
Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Hatton Homage Motivates All-Manchester Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry contest to capture the continental championship.
The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant homage before the fight as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound ended, the stillness gave way to a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The action during the bout equaled the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch squarely on the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, noticeable damage developing under his eye as the fighters landed punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
The victor barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but the two athletes were persistent and courageous, exactly what their inspiration the legend represented.
