UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger had his moments, connecting with powerful single shots in a match where the approaches failed to mesh, with excessive holding spoiling the fight.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor said in the ringside as he was greeted with disapproval from the spectators.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th career victory.
Various analysts thought the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer endured the second loss of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Secures Win in Uneventful Affair
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to overcommit in a calculated early stages.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was participating in his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to barely take the better periods.
The crowd's patience wore thin because of constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during clinches.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Inspires All-Manchester Fight
In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry contest to win the continental title.
The stadium grew hushed for a deeply poignant memorial prior to the bout as ten bells rang in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the city since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound ended, the silence became a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting during the bout reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook flush on the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the eight count.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured quickly, significant bruising forming under his eye as the pair traded powerful shots.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over the full distance.
The victor edged the result with scoring tallies of even score, close margin and wider gap, but each competitor were determined and courageous, everything their idol the legend stood for.
