British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming debut to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close 10-round bout at the boxing arena.
But the challenger found success, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the styles failed to mesh, with excessive holding disrupting the action.
The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest showing but how do champions respond? They win," the victor stated in the ring as he was met by disapproval from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts believed the challenger, 31, deserved the decision but the contender experienced the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Claims Triumph in Uneventful Affair
The fighter's advancement has stalled in the past few years through promotional disputes and considerable time of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with neither fighter prepared to be aggressive in a tentative opening few rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was participating in his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance diminished during constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker closed well, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Hatton Tribute Inspires All-Manchester Fight
In the supporting bout, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific local rivalry battle to capture the European light heavyweight title.
The venue fell silent for a extremely emotional memorial ahead of the contest as 10 bells tolled in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The action inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook flush on the jaw in the initial stage, rising shakily to his footing on the eight count.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up early, noticeable damage developing under his orbital area as the pair exchanged hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the decision with scoring tallies of draw, 115-113 and wider gap, but the two athletes were determined and full of heart, everything their inspiration the legend represented.
