UK 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 appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close 10-round contest at the boxing arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a match where the techniques failed to mesh, with constant grabbing disrupting the action.
Two judges had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi said in the ring as he was met by negative reactions from the spectators.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th pro success.
Various analysts believed the challenger, 31, merited the win but the British boxer experienced the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Win in Uneventful Encounter
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent times through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - maybe in what seems like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with neither fighter ready to be aggressive in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to barely take the cleaner stanzas.
The crowd's patience diminished during constant clinching, with Parker going down various instances during close exchanges.
The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor progresses, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Fuels All-Manchester Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry fight to win the European light heavyweight title.
The venue grew hushed for a profoundly moving tribute before the fight as 10 bells sounded in memory of the city's native Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised match card in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound faded, the quiet became a roar of "there's just one Hatton".
The action during the bout equaled the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook squarely on the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his position on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured soon, heavy swelling appearing under his orbital area as the fighters landed hard punches.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, exactly what their inspiration the legend stood for.
