UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming beginning to his career under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a split decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful individual punches in a match where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the contest.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest display but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor said in the ring as he was greeted with boos from the crowd.
The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers believed the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Claims Win in Dull Encounter
His career development has stalled in recent years through management issues and long spells of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the next star of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors ready to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to narrowly win the better stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance decreased during regular grabbing, with Parker going down multiple occasions during clinches.
The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Homage Fuels All-Manchester Battle
In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific local rivalry fight to capture the continental championship.
The stadium fell silent for a deeply poignant memorial prior to the bout as a bell ceremony rang in honor of local hero Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound disappeared, the quiet became a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured early, significant bruising developing under his face as the pair landed hard punches.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor edged the result with scoring tallies of draw, narrow lead and wider gap, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their hero Hatton embodied.
