UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing start to life under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective individual punches in a fight where the styles didn't complement each other, with excessive holding marring the action.
Two judges had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor said in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the audience.
The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts felt the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the British boxer endured the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Secures Triumph in Slow Match
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of UK boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what appears to be a last chance - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter ready to overcommit in a cagey early stages.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only 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 narrowly win the cleaner periods.
The crowd's patience diminished amid constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during close exchanges.
The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.
The victor progresses, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Hatton Tribute Fuels Local Rivalry Fight
In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to win the European light heavyweight championship.
The arena fell silent for a extremely emotional memorial ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who died 46 years old in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the final chime disappeared, the silence gave way to a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition within the ring reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow directly to the jaw in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the count of eight.
But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured early, noticeable damage appearing under his orbital area as the pair landed powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over the full distance.
Arthur barely secured the decision with scoring tallies of even score, narrow lead and wider gap, but both fighters were determined and brave, all the qualities their inspiration the legend represented.
