British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing start to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful individual punches in a contest where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing disrupting the action.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but how do champions respond? They win," the victor commented in the arena as he was faced disapproval from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers thought the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second loss of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Secures Victory in Uneventful Encounter
The fighter's advancement has stalled in the past few years through promotional disputes and considerable time of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the future of UK boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter ready to take risks in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand during the bout, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective rounds.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin amid constant clinching, with Parker going down multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker closed well, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Hatton Tribute Inspires All-Manchester Battle
In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry fight to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.
The arena became quiet for a deeply poignant homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised fight night in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime ended, the quiet gave way to a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook directly to the face in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his feet on the referee's count.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged early, noticeable damage forming under his face as the pair landed powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur edged the result with scoring tallies of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and courageous, everything their inspiration the legend represented.
