UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming debut to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a split decision in a close ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful clean blows in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with constant grabbing marring the contest.
Two judges had it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best display but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor commented in the ring as he was greeted with negative reactions from the spectators.
The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the contender experienced the second setback of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Secures Triumph in Uneventful Encounter
Buatsi's progress has stalled in the past few years through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the future of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter willing to be aggressive in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was making just his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to narrowly win the cleaner rounds.
The crowd's patience decreased amid frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during grappling.
The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels Manchester Derby Fight
In the secondary fight, Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to secure the continental title.
The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial ahead of the contest as ten bells sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound ended, the stillness became a shout of "there's just one Hatton".
The action during the bout reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook squarely on the chin in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the eight count.
But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged early, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the duo exchanged hard punches.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
Arthur edged the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, 115-113 and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and brave, exactly what their inspiration the legend represented.
