UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming beginning to life under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective single shots in a contest where the techniques didn't complement each other, with excessive holding disrupting the fight.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor said in the ringside as he was met by boos from the crowd.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer endured the second loss of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Claims Win in Dull Affair
Buatsi's progress has stalled in the past few years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of British boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to take risks in a cagey early stages.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was making just his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to edge the more effective stanzas.
The audience's tolerance wore thin amid constant clinching, with Parker going down multiple occasions during close exchanges.
The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels Local Rivalry Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry contest to win the continental title.
The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound faded, the silence became a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook squarely on the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the eight count.
But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged soon, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the fighters landed punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the pace hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
The victor barely secured the decision with scoring tallies of draw, narrow lead and 115-112, but both fighters were determined and brave, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton embodied.
