UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming debut to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a majority decision in a close 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger had his moments, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching marring the contest.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best performance but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was met by boos from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers thought the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Claims Victory in Uneventful Encounter
His career development has slowed in recent years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what appears to be a last chance - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to be aggressive in a tentative initial rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to barely take the more effective stanzas.
The crowd's patience decreased because of regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Hatton Homage Motivates Manchester Derby Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent all-Manchester contest to secure the European light heavyweight belt.
The venue fell silent for a deeply poignant memorial ahead of the contest as 10 bells sounded in honor of the city's native Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in recently.
It was the first major televised match card in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound ended, the silence gave way to a shout of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The action inside the ropes equaled the feeling. Arthur was floored by a significant blow flush on the chin in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising forming under his eye as the fighters traded hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of draw, narrow lead and clearer margin, but the two athletes were persistent and courageous, exactly what their inspiration Hatton embodied.
