UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a split decision in a competitive 10-round fight at the boxing arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective clean blows in a fight where the approaches didn't complement each other, with excessive holding marring the fight.
The officials had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my best showing but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi said in the arena as he was greeted with disapproval from the crowd.
The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers felt the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Secures Triumph in Uneventful Affair
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in the past few years through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - possibly in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with neither fighter prepared to overcommit in a calculated early stages.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was participating in his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to edge the better stanzas.
The crowd's patience wore thin during frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Although, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Hatton Homage Motivates All-Manchester Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester fight to capture the continental belt.
The venue grew hushed for a deeply poignant memorial ahead of the contest as 10 bells rang in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who died 46 years old in recently.
It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell faded, the quiet became a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition within the ring equaled the feeling. Arthur was floored by a left hook directly to the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured early, heavy swelling appearing under his orbital area as the pair traded powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
The victor edged the verdict with official scores of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, exactly what their idol the legend stood for.
