UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing start to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful clean blows in a contest where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing spoiling the action.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi said in the ring as he was faced negative reactions from the spectators.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th career victory.
Various analysts felt the challenger, 31, merited the decision but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Secures Win in Slow Match
His career development has slowed in recent years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - possibly in what seems like a last chance - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter willing to be aggressive in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was participating in his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.
The crowd's patience decreased amid regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor several times during clinches.
Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Homage Fuels Manchester Derby Fight
In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a outstanding local rivalry battle to capture the European light heavyweight championship.
The venue fell silent for a extremely emotional homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound disappeared, the silence gave way to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting within the ring matched the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the early round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the eight count.
But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged quickly, noticeable damage developing under his eye as the fighters traded powerful shots.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
The victor narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but both fighters were relentless and brave, everything their idol the legend embodied.
