UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming beginning to his career under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective single shots in a contest where the styles didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing marring the contest.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what defines champions? They win," the victor stated in the arena as he was met by negative reactions from the crowd.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Earns Victory in Dull Match
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to overcommit in a cagey early stages.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was making just his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.
The audience's tolerance decreased because of regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during close exchanges.
Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
The victor progresses, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Fight
In the co-main event, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding local rivalry contest to secure the continental belt.
The stadium became quiet for a deeply poignant homage before the fight as ten bells tolled in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell faded, the silence transitioned to a shout of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout matched the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook flush on the chin in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the fighters landed hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
Arthur edged the result with scoring tallies of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but the two athletes were relentless and brave, everything their hero the legend embodied.
