UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming start to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a split decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a contest where the styles didn't complement each other, with excessive holding marring the fight.
Two judges scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my best display but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor stated in the ringside as he was greeted with negative reactions from the audience.
The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers thought Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Claims Triumph in Dull Match
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors prepared to take risks in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.
The audience's tolerance decreased because of frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor progresses, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Fuels Local Rivalry Battle
In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester fight to secure the continental belt.
The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant homage before the fight as 10 bells sounded in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who died at age 46 in September.
It was the first major televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the silence became a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting within the ring equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow flush on the chin in the initial stage, rising shakily to his position on the eight count.
But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured soon, significant bruising appearing under his face as the pair exchanged punishing blows.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.
Arthur edged the result with scoring tallies of 114-114, narrow lead and wider gap, but both fighters were determined and courageous, all the qualities their idol the legend represented.
