UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive start to his career under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round bout at the boxing arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective single shots in a fight where the styles never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the contest.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor said in the ring as he was faced boos from the spectators.
The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Various analysts believed the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the contender suffered the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Earns Win in Dull Affair
His career development has slowed in the past few years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He started carefully, with the two boxers ready to take risks in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was making just his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the cleaner rounds.
The spectators' acceptance decreased because of frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during grappling.
The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor advances, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Battle
In the secondary fight, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry battle to capture the European light heavyweight belt.
The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving homage ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the city since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the stillness gave way to a roar of "there's only one Hatton".
The fighting during the bout matched the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook squarely on the chin in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.
But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was damaged early, significant bruising developing under his eye as the duo landed powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
The victor barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of even score, narrow lead and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and full of heart, exactly what their hero Hatton stood for.
