UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective individual punches in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with excessive holding disrupting the action.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was met by negative reactions from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts felt Parker, thirty-one, merited the win but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second defeat of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Claims Triumph in Slow Encounter
His career development has slowed in recent times through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to take risks in a tentative opening few rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to barely take the cleaner stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance decreased amid regular grabbing, with Parker going down multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi advances, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates Local Rivalry Battle
In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester battle to secure the continental championship.
The stadium fell silent for a profoundly moving tribute prior to the bout as a bell ceremony rang in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised match card in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell ended, the stillness transitioned to a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The action within the ring equaled the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch squarely on the face in the early round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the eight count.
But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured early, heavy swelling appearing under his eye as the fighters traded hard punches.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
The victor barely secured the decision with official scores of draw, narrow lead and 115-112, but each competitor were relentless and courageous, exactly what their hero the legend embodied.
