UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing debut to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a split decision in a tight ten-round contest at the boxing arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling single shots in a fight where the techniques failed to mesh, with excessive holding marring the fight.
Two judges scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor said in the ring as he was greeted with disapproval from the spectators.
The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts thought the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Earns Victory in Uneventful Encounter
The fighter's advancement has stalled in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the future of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - maybe in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter prepared to take risks in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to narrowly win the cleaner periods.
The spectators' acceptance decreased amid constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester battle to secure the continental belt.
The venue grew hushed for a profoundly moving tribute ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony tolled in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the city since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound ended, the quiet gave way to a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes matched the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch directly to the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his position on the eight count.
But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, heavy swelling forming under his eye as the pair traded punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the action rarely dropped over the full distance.
Arthur narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but the two athletes were relentless and courageous, all the qualities their inspiration the legend embodied.
