British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive start to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger found success, delivering effective clean blows in a fight where the approaches never quite clicked, with excessive holding marring the action.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best display but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was met by negative reactions from the audience.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts believed the challenger, 31, deserved the win but the British boxer suffered the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Win in Dull Affair
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with neither fighter prepared to take risks in a cagey early stages.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was participating in his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to narrowly win the better rounds.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin amid constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Fight
In the supporting bout, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry contest to secure the European light heavyweight belt.
The arena fell silent for a profoundly moving tribute ahead of the contest as 10 bells rang in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in last month.
It was the first major televised match card in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes matched the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch flush on the jaw in the early round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured early, heavy swelling forming under his face as the pair landed punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
Arthur edged the decision with official scores of 114-114, narrow lead and wider gap, but the two athletes were persistent and brave, exactly what their idol Hatton represented.
