UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, delivering effective clean blows in a fight where the approaches failed to mesh, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.
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," the victor stated in the ringside as he was met by boos from the audience.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.
Various analysts felt the challenger, 31, deserved the win but the contender suffered the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Triumph in Dull Affair
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent years through contract problems and extended periods of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the future of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - 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 the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand during the bout, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to barely take the cleaner periods.
The audience's tolerance diminished during regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during close exchanges.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester battle to capture the European light heavyweight belt.
The arena became quiet for a profoundly moving memorial ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the location since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the stillness transitioned to a shout of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch flush on the jaw in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured soon, noticeable damage appearing under his eye as the duo landed punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over the full distance.
Arthur barely secured the verdict with official scores of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but each competitor were relentless and brave, exactly what their hero Hatton embodied.
