British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker found success, landing some telling single shots in a contest where the techniques didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the contest.
The officials scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my best showing but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was met by disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.
Various analysts believed the challenger, thirty-one, merited the decision but the contender suffered the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Earns Win in Uneventful Encounter
His career development has slowed in recent years through promotional disputes and long spells of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the future of British boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under recent support.
He started carefully, with neither fighter ready to overcommit in a tentative opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was making just his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to edge the better rounds.
The crowd's patience decreased during regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during clinches.
Parker closed well, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Fuels All-Manchester Battle
In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a excellent all-Manchester battle to secure the continental belt.
The arena fell silent for a extremely emotional tribute prior to the bout as 10 bells tolled in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in September.
It was the first major televised fight night in the city since Hatton's passing. As the last bell ended, the silence became a roar of "there's only one Hatton".
The action during the bout equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook flush on the chin in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured soon, noticeable damage appearing under his face as the duo exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
Arthur barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and clearer margin, but each competitor were persistent and brave, all the qualities their idol the legend stood for.
