UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming start to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a split decision in a competitive ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, delivering effective clean blows in a match where the styles failed to mesh, with excessive holding disrupting the contest.
Two judges scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best performance but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was greeted with negative reactions from the spectators.
The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers believed the challenger, 31, merited the decision but the British boxer endured the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Earns Win in Slow Affair
His career development has stalled in recent years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to be aggressive in a tentative opening few rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was making just his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to edge the better stanzas.
The crowd's patience wore thin amid regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during close exchanges.
The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
The victor advances, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Inspires Local Rivalry Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent all-Manchester fight to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.
The stadium became quiet for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells sounded in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound ended, the silence gave way to a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting within the ring reflected the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow flush on the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was damaged quickly, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the duo exchanged punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
The victor edged the decision with scoring tallies of even score, narrow lead and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and brave, all the qualities their hero Hatton embodied.
