British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive beginning to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a split decision in a competitive 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the styles didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing disrupting the action.
Two judges scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They win," the victor said in the arena as he was met by boos from the audience.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers believed Parker, thirty-one, deserved the win but the contender suffered the second loss of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Secures Victory in Uneventful Affair
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to take risks in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand during the bout, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to edge the better periods.
The crowd's patience wore thin because of regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.
Parker closed well, but many rounds were hard to judge. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor advances, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Hatton Tribute Motivates Local Rivalry Fight
In the supporting bout, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to secure the continental belt.
The stadium became quiet for a extremely emotional memorial prior to the bout as 10 bells tolled in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound faded, the stillness transitioned to a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes reflected the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the jaw in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the eight count.
But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, heavy swelling forming under his orbital area as the fighters traded powerful shots.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur barely secured the result with judges scorecards of draw, narrow lead and clearer margin, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their hero Hatton stood for.
