UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing beginning to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round fight at the boxing arena.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful individual punches in a fight where the styles never quite clicked, with excessive holding spoiling the contest.
The officials judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor commented in the arena as he was greeted with boos from the spectators.
The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th career victory.
Various analysts thought Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer endured the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Earns Triumph in Dull Affair
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent times through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with the two boxers prepared to be aggressive in a calculated early stages.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a solid defense to narrowly win the better periods.
The spectators' acceptance diminished because of constant clinching, with Parker going down various instances during clinches.
Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Local Rivalry Battle
In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific all-Manchester fight to secure the European light-heavyweight belt.
The arena fell silent for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as 10 bells rang in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the quiet transitioned to a shout of "there's just one Hatton".
The action within the ring reflected the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow directly to the face in the second round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.
But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling appearing under his face as the pair landed hard punches.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor edged the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, narrow lead and wider gap, but both fighters were relentless and brave, all the qualities their hero the legend stood for.
