UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming start to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a match where the styles didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching disrupting the fight.
Two judges scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best display but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi said in the ring as he was greeted with negative reactions from the crowd.
The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers believed the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-match career.
The Champion Claims Victory in Uneventful Affair
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent times through management issues and extended periods of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a tentative opening few rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was competing in only his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the better periods.
The audience's tolerance wore thin amid constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during grappling.
Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Inspires All-Manchester Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester battle to secure the European light heavyweight title.
The arena grew hushed for a profoundly moving homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony sounded in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in September.
It was the first major televised fight night in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound disappeared, the silence became a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The action inside the ropes equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch squarely on the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage appearing under his face as the duo exchanged powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the action rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor narrowly won the result with official scores of draw, narrow lead and 115-112, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, exactly what their hero Hatton represented.
