British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing start to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output appeared to earn him a split decision in a competitive ten-round fight at the boxing arena.
But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective single shots in a match where the approaches didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing disrupting the fight.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor stated in the arena as he was met by boos from the crowd.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, 31, merited the win but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Triumph in Slow Encounter
His career development has stalled in recent times through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter ready to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was making just his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to barely take the better rounds.
The audience's tolerance wore thin during frequent holding, with Parker going down multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Fight
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to secure the European light heavyweight belt.
The arena became quiet for a profoundly moving tribute ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony rang in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in September.
It was the premier televised fight night in the location since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound disappeared, the quiet became a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout equaled the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the jaw in the initial stage, rising shakily to his position on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, significant bruising appearing under his face as the pair exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the pace hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of draw, close margin and clearer margin, but both fighters were persistent and courageous, exactly what their inspiration Hatton embodied.
