UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive debut to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the boxing arena.
But the challenger found success, landing some telling clean blows in a fight where the techniques failed to mesh, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best display but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the audience.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.
Various analysts thought Parker, thirty-one, merited the victory but the British boxer suffered the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Triumph in Uneventful Match
His career development has stalled in recent times through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what appears to be a last chance - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter prepared to take risks in a tentative opening few rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand in the contest, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the cleaner periods.
The spectators' acceptance diminished because of regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during close exchanges.
The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Hatton Homage Fuels Local Rivalry Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester contest to capture the continental championship.
The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional homage prior to the bout as 10 bells rang in memory of the city's native Hatton, who died 46 years old in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the final chime disappeared, the silence gave way to a shout of "there's only one Hatton".
The competition within the ring equaled the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow directly to the jaw in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.
But the red-colored attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured early, significant bruising developing under his face as the duo exchanged hard punches.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the action rarely dropped over the full distance.
Arthur edged the decision with official scores of 114-114, close margin and 115-112, but the two athletes were relentless and brave, everything their idol the legend stood for.
