UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching marring the fight.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor commented in the ringside as he was greeted with disapproval from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.
Various analysts thought Parker, 31, deserved the decision but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second loss of his 28-match career.
The Champion Earns Triumph in Uneventful Affair
The fighter's advancement has slowed in the past few years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a tentative opening few rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was participating in his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance diminished amid regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during grappling.
Parker closed well, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.
The victor advances, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester fight to win the European light heavyweight belt.
The stadium became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial prior to the bout as a bell ceremony rang in memory of local hero Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the city since Hatton's passing. As the final chime disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a shout of "only one Hatton".
The action during the bout equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook directly to the chin in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the eight count.
But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured early, heavy swelling developing under his face as the fighters landed punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.
The victor narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and courageous, everything their idol the legend stood for.
