British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing start to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round contest at the boxing arena.
But the challenger found success, landing some telling individual punches in a contest where the styles didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching marring the fight.
The officials had it 96-94 to Buatsi, 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 ringside as he was faced negative reactions from the audience.
The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers felt Parker, 31, merited the victory but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Victory in Slow Encounter
The fighter's advancement has stalled in the past few years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He started carefully, with the two boxers ready to be aggressive in a tentative early stages.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to narrowly win the better rounds.
The audience's tolerance wore thin during constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Hatton Tribute Motivates Manchester Derby Fight
In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester contest to capture the European light-heavyweight title.
The stadium grew hushed for a deeply poignant tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells sounded in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in September.
It was the first major televised match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook squarely on the face in the early round, standing uncertainly to his position on the eight count.
But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up early, significant bruising appearing under his face as the duo traded powerful shots.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur barely secured the verdict with official scores of draw, close margin and wider gap, but both fighters were relentless and full of heart, everything their idol Hatton represented.
