British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful single shots in a match where the styles failed to mesh, with frequent clinching disrupting the fight.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest display but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was greeted with disapproval from the spectators.
The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts felt Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the British boxer experienced the second setback of his 28-match career.
The Champion Claims Win in Uneventful Match
His career development has stalled in the past few years through management issues and considerable time of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the more effective stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance diminished during regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during close exchanges.
Parker closed well, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels All-Manchester Fight
In the secondary fight, Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to win the continental title.
The arena became quiet for a extremely emotional homage before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the city since Hatton's death. As the last bell faded, the stillness transitioned to a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action during the bout equaled the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a significant blow squarely on the chin in the early round, rising shakily to his footing on the eight count.
But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, heavy swelling developing under his face as the fighters landed hard punches.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor edged the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and 115-112, but the two athletes were determined and brave, everything their hero the legend stood for.
