UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a close 10-round fight at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the styles failed to mesh, with excessive holding disrupting the contest.
Two judges had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was met by negative reactions from the crowd.
The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th pro success.
Various analysts felt Parker, 31, merited the win but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Triumph in Uneventful Affair
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent times through contract problems and extended periods of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the future of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with the two boxers prepared to be aggressive in a tentative initial rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was making just his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to edge the more effective periods.
The audience's tolerance diminished because of constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during close exchanges.
The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Fight
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a excellent all-Manchester contest to win the European light heavyweight title.
The venue grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as ten bells sounded in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the quiet became a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook directly to the chin in the second round, rising shakily to his footing on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, noticeable damage developing under his orbital area as the duo traded powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
The victor barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of draw, narrow lead and clearer margin, but each competitor were determined and courageous, all the qualities their hero Hatton embodied.
