UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing start to life under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level likely gained him a majority decision in a close ten-round fight at the boxing arena.
But the challenger found success, landing some telling individual punches in a contest where the styles didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing marring the action.
The officials had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what defines champions? They win," the victor said in the ring as he was met by boos from the audience.
The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th career victory.
Various analysts felt Parker, thirty-one, merited the victory but the contender experienced the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Triumph in Uneventful Encounter
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter prepared to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to barely take the cleaner rounds.
The audience's tolerance wore thin during regular grabbing, with Parker going down several times during clinches.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Hatton Homage Motivates Local Rivalry Battle
In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a terrific local rivalry contest to win the European light heavyweight belt.
The arena became quiet for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as 10 bells tolled in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in September.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the city since Hatton's passing. As the final chime faded, the silence gave way to a shout of "there's only one Hatton".
The action during the bout matched the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, heavy swelling appearing under his eye as the duo traded punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
Arthur barely secured the result with judges scorecards of even score, close margin and wider gap, but the two athletes were determined and courageous, everything their hero the legend embodied.
