UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing debut to his career under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling individual punches in a match where the techniques failed to mesh, with frequent clinching marring the action.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my finest display but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor commented in the arena as he was met by boos from the spectators.
The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th pro success.
Various analysts believed the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Earns Victory in Slow Match
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent times through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors ready to overcommit in a tentative opening few rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the more effective rounds.
The spectators' acceptance diminished because of regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during close exchanges.
The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Hatton Homage Motivates All-Manchester Battle
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester fight to capture the continental belt.
The arena became quiet for a profoundly moving tribute prior to the bout as ten bells rang in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in September.
It was the premier televised fight night in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound ended, the quiet gave way to a shout of "there's only one Hatton".
The fighting during the bout equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow directly to the jaw in the second round, rising shakily to his position on the count of eight.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, heavy swelling forming under his orbital area as the duo exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
The victor edged the result with scoring tallies of draw, 115-113 and wider gap, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, exactly what their hero the legend embodied.
