British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a split decision in a tight 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling individual punches in a contest where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the contest.
Two judges judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor commented in the ringside as he was faced disapproval from the spectators.
The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts felt Parker, 31, merited the decision but the British boxer experienced the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Claims Win in Dull Affair
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in the past few years through management issues and extended periods of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what seems like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with neither fighter ready to be aggressive in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was competing in only his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.
The crowd's patience wore thin amid constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.
The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates Local Rivalry Battle
In the supporting bout, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific local rivalry contest to capture the European light heavyweight title.
The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional homage ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony rang in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in September.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet became a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring reflected the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his position on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured quickly, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the duo exchanged punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
Arthur barely secured the decision with scoring tallies of draw, close margin and clearer margin, but the two athletes were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their hero Hatton embodied.
