British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a close 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the techniques failed to mesh, with constant grabbing disrupting the fight.
Two judges had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest showing but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor said in the ringside as he was met by disapproval from the audience.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts felt Parker, thirty-one, merited the victory but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second setback of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Secures Victory in Slow Match
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent times through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of British boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with the two boxers ready to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to barely take the cleaner stanzas.
The audience's tolerance wore thin amid regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.
The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Motivates Local Rivalry Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to capture the European light heavyweight belt.
The arena fell silent for a extremely emotional memorial prior to the bout as ten bells sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in September.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the city since Hatton's passing. As the final chime faded, the stillness gave way to a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring equaled the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the face in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured early, significant bruising appearing under his orbital area as the fighters exchanged hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over the full distance.
Arthur barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, 115-113 and wider gap, but each competitor were determined and full of heart, exactly what their inspiration Hatton stood for.
