British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming debut to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a split decision in a close 10-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But Parker had his moments, delivering effective single shots in a fight where the approaches didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching marring the action.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor stated in the arena as he was greeted with boos from the audience.
The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers believed Parker, thirty-one, deserved the win but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second defeat of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Secures Victory in Dull Affair
His career development has plateaued in recent years through management issues and long spells of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the rising talent of British boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to take risks in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was making just his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to barely take the cleaner stanzas.
The crowd's patience decreased because of constant clinching, with Parker going down multiple occasions during clinches.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor advances, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels All-Manchester Fight
In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent local rivalry fight to win the European light-heavyweight title.
The stadium grew hushed for a deeply poignant tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised match card in the city since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound faded, the silence gave way to a chant of "there's just one Hatton".
The action during the bout matched the emotion. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch flush on the face in the second round, rising shakily to his position on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up early, heavy swelling forming under his eye as the duo exchanged punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the decision with official scores of even score, close margin and 115-112, but each competitor were persistent and full of heart, everything their inspiration Hatton stood for.
