UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a split decision in a close 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful single shots in a match where the styles failed to mesh, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my finest display but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor said in the ring as he was greeted with boos from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers felt Parker, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Earns Victory in Slow Match
His career development has plateaued in the past few years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - possibly in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He started carefully, with neither fighter prepared to take risks in a tentative opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to barely take the better rounds.
The spectators' acceptance decreased amid regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during clinches.
Parker closed well, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to secure the continental championship.
The stadium fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells tolled in honor of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in September.
It was the first major televised match card in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell faded, the stillness gave way to a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout matched the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow squarely on the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, significant bruising developing under his face as the fighters traded punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, exactly what their idol Hatton embodied.
