British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a split decision in a competitive 10-round bout at the boxing arena.
But Parker found success, landing some telling individual punches in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching marring the contest.
Two judges judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my finest showing but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor said in the arena as he was met by negative reactions from the crowd.
The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers felt the challenger, 31, deserved the victory but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second setback of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Claims Triumph in Dull Match
His career development has stalled in recent times through management issues and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of British boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a last chance - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with neither fighter ready to take risks in a cagey opening few rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to barely take the better periods.
The crowd's patience diminished because of constant clinching, with the challenger going down several times during close exchanges.
The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Fuels All-Manchester Fight
In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent all-Manchester fight to secure the European light-heavyweight title.
The venue became quiet for a deeply poignant homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in September.
It was the first major televised match card in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell ended, the stillness gave way to a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting within the ring reflected the emotion. Arthur was floored by a left hook directly to the jaw in the initial stage, rising shakily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured early, heavy swelling forming under his face as the duo exchanged hard punches.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
The victor barely secured the verdict with scoring tallies of draw, close margin and clearer margin, but each competitor were relentless and brave, everything their inspiration the legend stood for.
