UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing debut to life under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger found success, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the styles never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the action.
The officials judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best display but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi said in the ring as he was met by negative reactions from the audience.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts thought Parker, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Secures Triumph in Dull Affair
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter ready to take risks in a calculated initial rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was competing in only his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to barely take the better periods.
The audience's tolerance wore thin because of frequent holding, with the challenger going down various instances during grappling.
The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Contest
In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester contest to secure the continental championship.
The venue grew hushed for a deeply poignant tribute prior to the bout as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound disappeared, the stillness became a shout of "there's just one Hatton".
The competition during the bout matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow flush on the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured soon, noticeable damage forming under his orbital area as the fighters landed hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over the full distance.
Arthur edged the result with scoring tallies of draw, close margin and 115-112, but each competitor were determined and brave, everything their inspiration the legend embodied.
