British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the techniques failed to mesh, with excessive holding marring the fight.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was met by negative reactions from the audience.
The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers felt Parker, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the contender endured the second setback of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Claims Triumph in Dull Affair
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in the past few years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a last chance - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.
The crowd's patience wore thin amid frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during grappling.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry battle to win the European light-heavyweight belt.
The venue grew hushed for a profoundly moving memorial ahead of the contest as 10 bells tolled in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound disappeared, the quiet gave way to a shout of "there's only one Hatton".
The action inside the ropes reflected the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook squarely on the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured early, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the duo traded powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
The victor barely secured the result with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and wider gap, but both fighters were persistent and full of heart, all the qualities their hero Hatton stood for.
