UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a majority decision in a close 10-round fight at the boxing arena.
But the challenger found success, landing some telling single shots in a fight where the approaches failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the contest.
The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest display but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was met by boos from the audience.
The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers felt Parker, 31, merited the win but the British boxer experienced the second defeat of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Claims Triumph in Slow Affair
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent times through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of UK boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to overcommit in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was participating in his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to barely take the more effective rounds.
The crowd's patience wore thin during regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor progresses, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Contest
In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent local rivalry fight to secure the continental championship.
The stadium grew hushed for a profoundly moving tribute ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of local hero Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the city since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the silence became a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout matched the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch flush on the face in the second round, rising shakily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured soon, heavy swelling forming under his face as the fighters landed punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the result with official scores of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but each competitor were determined and brave, everything their idol the legend represented.
