UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to life under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close 10-round bout at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, landing some telling clean blows in a match where the techniques didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing disrupting the fight.
Two judges scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my best display but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor commented in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers felt the challenger, 31, merited the victory but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Claims Victory in Slow Match
The fighter's advancement has stalled in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter prepared to be aggressive in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was competing in only his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the more effective rounds.
The crowd's patience wore thin during regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during grappling.
Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels Manchester Derby Fight
In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester battle to capture the European light heavyweight belt.
The stadium grew hushed for a profoundly moving tribute ahead of the contest as 10 bells rang in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell ended, the silence transitioned to a chant of "only one Hatton".
The fighting during the bout equaled the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook flush on the face in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the eight count.
But the red-colored attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the pair exchanged powerful shots.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
The victor edged the decision with judges scorecards of even score, close margin and clearer margin, but each competitor were determined and full of heart, everything their inspiration the legend represented.
