UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful single shots in a contest where the styles failed to mesh, with excessive holding spoiling the contest.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest display but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers felt Parker, 31, deserved the win but the British boxer endured the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Claims Win in Dull Match
His career development has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the future of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - maybe in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with both competitors ready to take risks in a calculated early stages.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was participating in his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to edge the better stanzas.
The crowd's patience decreased amid constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.
Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
The victor moves on, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Inspires All-Manchester Battle
In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a excellent all-Manchester battle to secure the European light heavyweight title.
The venue grew hushed for a profoundly moving tribute before the fight as ten bells sounded in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in recently.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the city since Hatton's passing. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet became a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes matched the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch directly to the face in the initial stage, rising shakily to his position on the count of eight.
But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was damaged soon, significant bruising forming under his eye as the duo exchanged powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
The victor barely secured the verdict with scoring tallies of draw, narrow lead and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and brave, all the qualities their inspiration the legend represented.
