British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing start to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round fight at the boxing arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful individual punches in a match where the styles didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the contest.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest display but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the audience.
The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts felt the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Triumph in Slow Encounter
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent times through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with both competitors willing to be aggressive in a cagey early stages.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to barely take the cleaner rounds.
The crowd's patience diminished amid frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during grappling.
Parker closed well, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Hatton Homage Motivates All-Manchester Fight
In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester battle to win the continental title.
The stadium became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in memory of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the silence transitioned to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting within the ring equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook flush on the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his position on the eight count.
But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged early, heavy swelling forming under his face as the duo exchanged punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of draw, narrow lead and 115-112, but each competitor were determined and courageous, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton embodied.
