UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive beginning to his career under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the boxing arena.
But the challenger had his moments, connecting with powerful single shots in a contest where the techniques didn't complement each other, with excessive holding disrupting the action.
The officials scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best display but how do champions respond? They win," the victor stated in the ring as he was faced negative reactions from the audience.
The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers thought the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the win but the contender experienced the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Victory in Slow Affair
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent years through management issues and considerable time of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the next star of UK boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with neither fighter ready to take risks in a calculated early stages.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective rounds.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin during constant clinching, with Parker going down multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels Manchester Derby Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester battle to secure the continental title.
The venue grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in September.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the city since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound faded, the stillness gave way to a shout of "there's just one Hatton".
The action within the ring equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch flush on the chin in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, significant bruising forming under his orbital area as the fighters traded powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
The victor edged the result with scoring tallies of draw, 115-113 and clearer margin, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, everything their idol the legend stood for.
