British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling individual punches in a contest where the approaches failed to mesh, with frequent clinching marring the fight.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They win," the victor commented in the ring as he was faced boos from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts believed Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the contender endured the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Claims Victory in Uneventful Affair
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of British boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with neither fighter ready to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was making just his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to edge the more effective rounds.
The audience's tolerance wore thin because of frequent holding, with Parker going down multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires All-Manchester Fight
In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry fight to win the European light heavyweight championship.
The stadium fell silent for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as 10 bells tolled in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in last month.
It was the first major televised fight night in the city since Hatton's death. As the final chime ended, the stillness transitioned to a shout of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes equaled the feeling. Arthur was floored by a significant blow squarely on the jaw in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, the opponent - in rival City blue - was damaged quickly, noticeable damage developing under his orbital area as the pair exchanged punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.
Arthur barely secured the decision with scoring tallies of 114-114, 115-113 and wider gap, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their inspiration the legend embodied.
