UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming start to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful single shots in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with excessive holding marring the action.
The officials judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi said in the arena as he was greeted with boos from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th career victory.
Various analysts believed the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the contender suffered the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Secures Triumph in Dull Affair
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what appears to be a last chance - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to take risks in a calculated initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to edge the cleaner rounds.
The audience's tolerance decreased amid regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.
The victor progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Fuels Local Rivalry Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester contest to win the European light-heavyweight title.
The stadium grew hushed for a deeply poignant tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony rang in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who died at age 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime disappeared, the quiet transitioned to a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The action during the bout reflected the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch flush on the face in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, significant bruising appearing under his orbital area as the duo landed powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur barely secured the result with official scores of draw, 115-113 and clearer margin, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, everything their idol Hatton embodied.
