UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing start to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a majority decision in a tight ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective individual punches in a fight where the approaches never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the action.
Two judges judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor said in the ringside as he was greeted with disapproval from the audience.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers thought the challenger, thirty-one, merited the decision but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-match career.
The Champion Secures Win in Slow Match
The fighter's advancement has stalled in the past few years through management issues and long spells of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the next star of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to overcommit in a calculated early stages.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was participating in his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a solid defense to edge the better stanzas.
The crowd's patience decreased during regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.
Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific all-Manchester battle to capture the continental title.
The arena grew hushed for a deeply poignant tribute ahead of the contest as 10 bells tolled in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the location since Hatton's passing. As the final chime disappeared, the quiet transitioned to a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch squarely on the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured early, significant bruising appearing under his orbital area as the fighters exchanged punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over the full distance.
Arthur edged the decision with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, all the qualities their idol Hatton represented.
