UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker found success, landing some telling individual punches in a contest where the approaches never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the fight.
The officials had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best performance but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi said in the arena as he was faced disapproval from the spectators.
The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th pro success.
Various analysts believed the challenger, thirty-one, merited the decision but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Claims Victory in Dull Encounter
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and long spells of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - possibly in what appears to be a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with neither fighter willing to be aggressive in a calculated early stages.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a solid defense to barely take the more effective rounds.
The audience's tolerance wore thin during regular grabbing, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during close exchanges.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Hatton Homage Motivates Manchester Derby Contest
In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding all-Manchester contest to capture the continental championship.
The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in memory of local hero Hatton, who died 46 years old in last month.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the final chime disappeared, the quiet transitioned to a chant of "there's just one Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow squarely on the jaw in the second round, rising shakily to his feet on the eight count.
But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged quickly, noticeable damage developing under his face as the fighters traded hard punches.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the intensity seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
Arthur edged the decision with judges scorecards of draw, narrow lead and wider gap, but each competitor were relentless and courageous, everything their idol Hatton represented.
