UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win 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 activity level likely gained him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling individual punches in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing disrupting the contest.
The officials had it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was greeted with negative reactions from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th career victory.
Various analysts believed Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer experienced the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Secures Triumph in Dull Affair
Buatsi's progress has stalled in the past few years through management issues and long spells of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with both competitors willing to be aggressive in a cagey early stages.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was participating in his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the cleaner periods.
The spectators' acceptance decreased because of frequent holding, with Parker going down multiple occasions during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels Local Rivalry Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester contest to secure the continental championship.
The venue became quiet for a deeply poignant tribute prior to the bout as 10 bells rang in honor of local hero Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell ended, the stillness became a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The action within the ring matched the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook flush on the chin in the second round, rising shakily to his footing on the eight count.
But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged early, significant bruising appearing under his orbital area as the fighters traded hard punches.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur edged the decision with official scores of even score, 115-113 and clearer margin, but each competitor were determined and courageous, exactly what their hero Hatton represented.
