UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to life under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a majority decision in a tight ten-round contest at the boxing arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful individual punches in a fight where the techniques failed to mesh, with constant grabbing disrupting the fight.
The officials scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my finest display but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was met by negative reactions from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers believed the challenger, 31, deserved the win but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second loss of his 28-match career.
The Champion Earns Win in Uneventful Encounter
His career development has stalled in recent times through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to take risks in a calculated early stages.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was participating in his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a solid defense to barely take the cleaner rounds.
The audience's tolerance decreased amid regular grabbing, with Parker going down several times during close exchanges.
The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just a single round.
The victor progresses, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Hatton Homage Fuels Local Rivalry Battle
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a terrific local rivalry contest to secure the European light heavyweight title.
The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the final chime ended, the silence transitioned to a roar of "there's only one Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes matched the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch directly to the chin in the second round, standing uncertainly to his position on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was injured quickly, heavy swelling developing under his orbital area as the fighters exchanged punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the pace rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of draw, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were determined and brave, exactly what their inspiration Hatton stood for.
