UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, delivering effective individual punches in a match where the styles failed to mesh, with excessive holding marring the action.
The officials had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best display but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was greeted with negative reactions from the crowd.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers believed Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Claims Triumph in Slow Encounter
His career development has stalled in the past few years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to edge the more effective periods.
The audience's tolerance decreased amid constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during clinches.
Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates Local Rivalry Battle
In the supporting bout, Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a outstanding all-Manchester fight to capture the European light-heavyweight title.
The venue fell silent for a deeply poignant memorial before the fight as 10 bells tolled in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the city since Hatton's death. As the final chime ended, the quiet gave way to a shout of "only one Hatton".
The competition during the bout reflected the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch squarely on the chin in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up early, significant bruising forming under his eye as the duo traded hard punches.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
The victor narrowly won the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were persistent and full of heart, exactly what their idol Hatton represented.
