British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive start to life under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But Parker had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a match where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the contest.
Two judges scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor said in the arena as he was greeted with negative reactions from the audience.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts believed Parker, 31, should have been awarded the win but the contender experienced the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Earns Win in Slow Affair
His career development has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and extended periods of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was participating in his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to barely take the more effective rounds.
The crowd's patience diminished because of constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during clinches.
Parker closed well, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor advances, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Hatton Homage Motivates Local Rivalry Battle
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent local rivalry contest to secure the European light heavyweight title.
The venue grew hushed for a deeply poignant tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony sounded in honor of local hero Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet became a shout of "there's just one Hatton".
The action during the bout equaled the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow directly to the face in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.
But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged soon, heavy swelling appearing under his face as the pair exchanged hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over the full distance.
Arthur edged the verdict with judges scorecards of draw, 115-113 and 115-112, but each competitor were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their hero the legend stood for.
