British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing debut to his career under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a split decision in a close 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful individual punches in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the fight.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my best display but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor stated in the arena as he was met by boos from the spectators.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th career victory.
Various analysts believed the challenger, 31, deserved the victory but the British boxer endured the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Secures Win in Slow Affair
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent times through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter ready to overcommit in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was making just his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to edge the cleaner rounds.
The audience's tolerance decreased because of constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during clinches.
Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor advances, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester battle to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.
The stadium became quiet for a deeply poignant homage ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony rang in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised match card in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime faded, the stillness became a chant of "there's just one Hatton".
The action during the bout equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook flush on the face in the initial stage, rising shakily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured quickly, heavy swelling developing under his orbital area as the fighters traded powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
Arthur edged the verdict with scoring tallies of even score, narrow lead and wider gap, but both fighters were determined and courageous, exactly what their hero the legend embodied.
