UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker had his moments, landing some telling single shots in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the action.
Two judges scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my finest showing but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor stated in the arena as he was faced boos from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts thought Parker, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Triumph in Uneventful Encounter
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter ready to take risks in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.
The audience's tolerance diminished because of constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during grappling.
Parker closed well, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Inspires All-Manchester Contest
In the secondary fight, Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester fight to capture the continental title.
The venue grew hushed for a extremely emotional memorial ahead of the contest as ten bells tolled in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who died 46 years old in September.
It was the first major televised fight night in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell ended, the stillness gave way to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes reflected the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow squarely on the face in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.
But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged early, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the duo traded hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.
Arthur barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of draw, 115-113 and 115-112, but each competitor were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their idol the legend stood for.
