UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing beginning 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 judges' verdict in a close 10-round fight at the boxing arena.
But the challenger had his moments, connecting with powerful clean blows in a contest where the techniques failed to mesh, with excessive holding spoiling the contest.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best performance but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was greeted with negative reactions from the spectators.
The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers thought the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the win but the contender experienced the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Win in Slow Affair
His career development has slowed in recent years through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to take risks in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was making just his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to barely take the cleaner rounds.
The audience's tolerance wore thin during frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.
The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Motivates Local Rivalry Fight
In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry fight to win the European light heavyweight belt.
The arena became quiet for a profoundly moving tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells tolled in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in last month.
It was the first major televised match card in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound faded, the quiet gave way to a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting during the bout matched the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook directly to the jaw in the early round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured quickly, heavy swelling appearing under his face as the duo exchanged punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over the full distance.
Arthur narrowly won the verdict with official scores of even score, close margin and wider gap, but each competitor were determined and brave, everything their hero the legend stood for.
