British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level likely gained him a majority decision in a close ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with excessive holding marring the action.
The officials had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest display but how do champions respond? They win," the victor commented in the ring as he was greeted with disapproval from the audience.
The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers believed Parker, thirty-one, merited the decision but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Earns Victory in Dull Encounter
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through management issues and long spells of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was participating in his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to barely take the better stanzas.
The audience's tolerance decreased amid regular grabbing, with Parker going down several times during clinches.
Parker closed well, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Hatton Tribute Motivates Manchester Derby Contest
In the secondary fight, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.
The venue grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage prior to the bout as 10 bells sounded in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in last month.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound faded, the silence transitioned to a shout of "there's only one Hatton".
The competition during the bout reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook flush on the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the red-colored attire of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up early, noticeable damage developing under his eye as the pair traded punishing blows.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
The victor narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of draw, close margin and 115-112, but each competitor were persistent and brave, all the qualities their hero Hatton represented.
