UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective individual punches in a fight where the techniques didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing disrupting the fight.
Two judges scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was met by boos from the spectators.
The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to earn a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts believed the challenger, 31, deserved the win but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Claims Victory in Uneventful Affair
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with neither fighter ready to overcommit in a calculated initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was making just his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to narrowly win the cleaner periods.
The crowd's patience wore thin during constant clinching, with Parker going down multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor progresses, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Inspires All-Manchester Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding all-Manchester contest to secure the European light heavyweight title.
The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the final chime disappeared, the quiet transitioned to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring equaled the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch directly to the face in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his feet on the count of eight.
But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling appearing under his eye as the pair exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the action rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
The victor narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and courageous, all the qualities their inspiration the legend represented.
