UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling individual punches in a contest where the approaches failed to mesh, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what defines champions? They win," the victor commented in the ring as he was met by disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.
Various analysts believed Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Triumph in Slow Encounter
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent years through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with neither fighter prepared to be aggressive in a tentative opening few rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was participating in his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to barely take the cleaner rounds.
The crowd's patience diminished during frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during clinches.
Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Fight
In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a outstanding all-Manchester contest to secure the European light-heavyweight title.
The stadium fell silent for a deeply poignant memorial prior to the bout as ten bells tolled in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime disappeared, the quiet became a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes equaled the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow flush on the face in the second round, rising shakily to his position on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up soon, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the fighters traded powerful shots.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
Arthur barely secured the result with official scores of draw, 115-113 and wider gap, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, exactly what their inspiration Hatton represented.
