British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing start to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a majority decision in a close ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing spoiling the action.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was greeted with disapproval from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers thought the challenger, thirty-one, merited the decision but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Win in Slow Match
His career development has stalled in the past few years through management issues and considerable time of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the next star of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with neither fighter prepared to take risks in a cagey opening few rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was making just his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a solid defense to narrowly win the better periods.
The audience's tolerance decreased because of constant clinching, with the challenger going down several times during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
The victor advances, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Battle
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry battle to capture the European light-heavyweight title.
The stadium grew hushed for a deeply poignant tribute prior to the bout as 10 bells tolled in memory of the city's native Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised match card in the city since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound faded, the stillness gave way to a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The fighting within the ring equaled the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch directly to the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising forming under his face as the duo landed punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
The victor barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but both fighters were persistent and courageous, all the qualities their inspiration the legend represented.
