UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to his career under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But the challenger had his moments, connecting with powerful individual punches in a contest where the styles didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the fight.
The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor commented in the ring as he was faced boos from the audience.
The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers felt Parker, thirty-one, merited the win but the British boxer experienced the second setback of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Claims Victory in Dull Match
His career development has plateaued in the past few years through management issues and extended periods of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to be aggressive in a cagey early stages.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to narrowly win the better periods.
The spectators' acceptance diminished because of regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just a single round.
The victor advances, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Fight
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester contest to secure the European light heavyweight title.
The arena grew hushed for a deeply poignant memorial ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the location since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound faded, the silence gave way to a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The fighting during the bout equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow squarely on the chin in the second round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the referee's count.
But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up early, significant bruising developing under his face as the duo exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of draw, narrow lead and 115-112, but each competitor were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their inspiration the legend represented.
