UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective single shots in a fight where the techniques never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the action.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best display but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor stated in the ring as he was met by negative reactions from the crowd.
The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts felt Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Claims Triumph in Uneventful Match
His career development has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - possibly in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with both competitors ready to take risks in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was making just his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.
The crowd's patience diminished during frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during clinches.
Parker closed well, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates Local Rivalry Contest
In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding all-Manchester fight to capture the European light-heavyweight title.
The venue grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage prior to the bout as ten bells sounded in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who died 46 years old in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound faded, the silence became a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout reflected the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch directly to the chin in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his position on the count of eight.
But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up early, significant bruising developing under his face as the pair exchanged punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
The victor narrowly won the result with official scores of draw, 115-113 and wider gap, but the two athletes were relentless and brave, all the qualities their idol Hatton represented.
