British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing debut to life under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a split decision in a tight 10-round fight at the boxing arena.
But Parker found success, delivering effective single shots in a contest where the styles never quite clicked, with constant grabbing disrupting the contest.
Two judges scored it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what do champions do? They win," the victor commented in the ringside as he was faced disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts felt the challenger, thirty-one, merited the win but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Triumph in Dull Affair
Buatsi's progress has stalled in the past few years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with both competitors ready to overcommit in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was making just his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the cleaner stanzas.
The audience's tolerance decreased during regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during clinches.
Parker closed well, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor advances, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Battle
In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a excellent all-Manchester contest to capture the continental belt.
The stadium grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage before the fight as 10 bells sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised match card in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime faded, the quiet became a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting during the bout equaled the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow flush on the chin in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his position on the count of eight.
But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, noticeable damage forming under his face as the fighters exchanged punishing blows.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the pace rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
The victor barely secured the result with scoring tallies of even score, narrow lead and wider gap, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, everything their idol the legend stood for.
