British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful individual punches in a fight where the styles never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the action.
The officials judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best showing but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor commented in the arena as he was faced disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th pro success.
Various analysts thought the challenger, thirty-one, merited the decision but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Claims Win in Uneventful Encounter
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers prepared to take risks in a calculated initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to edge the more effective periods.
The crowd's patience wore thin during frequent holding, with Parker going down various instances during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Hatton Tribute Motivates All-Manchester Fight
In the co-main event, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific all-Manchester battle to capture the European light heavyweight belt.
The venue became quiet for a profoundly moving memorial prior to the bout as a bell ceremony rang in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the silence transitioned to a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow flush on the face in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured quickly, heavy swelling appearing under his face as the fighters traded powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor barely secured the decision with official scores of 114-114, close margin and 115-112, but each competitor were persistent and full of heart, exactly what their inspiration Hatton stood for.
