UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful clean blows in a contest where the styles never quite clicked, with excessive holding spoiling the fight.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest display but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was met by negative reactions from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts believed the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the win but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Earns Win in Slow Affair
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent times through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers ready to be aggressive in a calculated initial rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to narrowly win the better periods.
The audience's tolerance decreased because of regular grabbing, with Parker going down multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Inspires All-Manchester Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding local rivalry fight to capture the European light heavyweight title.
The venue fell silent for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony rang in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the city since Hatton's death. As the final chime ended, the silence transitioned to a chant of "there's just one Hatton".
The competition within the ring equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook squarely on the jaw in the second round, rising shakily to his position on the count of eight.
But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, significant bruising forming under his face as the duo exchanged hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over the full distance.
Arthur barely secured the result with scoring tallies of even score, 115-113 and clearer margin, but both fighters were persistent and full of heart, all the qualities their hero the legend embodied.
