UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive start to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective single shots in a fight where the approaches never quite clicked, with constant grabbing spoiling the fight.
Two judges scored it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor stated in the arena as he was faced boos from the crowd.
The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts felt the challenger, 31, merited the decision but the British boxer endured the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Earns Win in Uneventful Match
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of British boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was making just his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to edge the better rounds.
The crowd's patience wore thin amid constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.
The underdog closed well, but many rounds were challenging to assess. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Hatton Tribute Motivates Manchester Derby Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester contest to secure the European light-heavyweight belt.
The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime ended, the quiet transitioned to a chant of "there's just one Hatton".
The fighting during the bout equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch flush on the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his position on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, heavy swelling developing under his face as the pair landed hard punches.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the intensity seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
Arthur edged the result with official scores of draw, narrow lead and clearer margin, but the two athletes were persistent and courageous, exactly what their hero Hatton represented.
