UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a majority decision in a tight ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, delivering effective single shots in a match where the approaches failed to mesh, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.
The officials judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor said in the arena as he was met by negative reactions from the audience.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts believed the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the British boxer endured the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Claims Win in Slow Match
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent times through promotional disputes and long spells of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the future of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with the two boxers ready to overcommit in a cagey early stages.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand during the bout, was participating in his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective rounds.
The crowd's patience diminished during frequent holding, with Parker going down several times during clinches.
Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Battle
In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry fight to capture the European light-heavyweight championship.
The stadium grew hushed for a profoundly moving tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound faded, the silence transitioned to a roar of "there's only one Hatton".
The fighting within the ring reflected the emotion. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch flush on the chin in the initial stage, rising shakily to his position on the eight count.
But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged early, noticeable damage developing under his eye as the pair traded hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of draw, 115-113 and clearer margin, but the two athletes were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their hero the legend stood for.
