UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive start to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker had his moments, landing some telling single shots in a fight where the styles never quite clicked, with constant grabbing spoiling the contest.
Two judges scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest display but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was met by negative reactions from the spectators.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.
Various analysts thought the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Claims Victory in Dull Match
His career development has stalled in recent years through management issues and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of British boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He started carefully, with both competitors ready to be aggressive in a tentative opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.
The crowd's patience wore thin amid frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.
Parker closed well, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Inspires Local Rivalry Fight
In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a outstanding local rivalry battle to capture the European light heavyweight championship.
The stadium fell silent for a profoundly moving tribute before the fight as 10 bells rang in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the silence became a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch squarely on the jaw in the initial stage, rising shakily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up early, heavy swelling developing under his orbital area as the pair exchanged powerful shots.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the decision with scoring tallies of 114-114, 115-113 and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and brave, exactly what their hero the legend represented.
