British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming debut to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a majority decision in a tight 10-round contest at the boxing arena.
But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective individual punches in a match where the approaches didn't complement each other, with excessive holding marring the contest.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best performance but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor stated in the arena as he was faced negative reactions from the spectators.
The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Secures Triumph in Uneventful Match
His career development has slowed in recent times through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of British boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with the two boxers ready to be aggressive in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was making just his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to edge the more effective periods.
The spectators' acceptance decreased during frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.
The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Although, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates All-Manchester Battle
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a outstanding local rivalry battle to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.
The venue grew hushed for a profoundly moving tribute ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised match card in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime faded, the quiet transitioned to a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes matched the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch squarely on the chin in the initial stage, rising shakily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was damaged early, noticeable damage appearing under his face as the pair exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the verdict with official scores of draw, 115-113 and 115-112, but both fighters were relentless and brave, all the qualities their hero Hatton embodied.
