UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing start to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round fight at the boxing arena.
But the challenger found success, delivering effective individual punches in a match where the approaches didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing marring the contest.
The officials judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor stated in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the spectators.
The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.
Various analysts thought the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the win but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Secures Victory in Slow Affair
His career development has plateaued in recent times through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of British boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with neither fighter willing to overcommit in a cagey opening few rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.
The audience's tolerance decreased during regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.
The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor advances, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates Local Rivalry Fight
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester contest to capture the European light heavyweight championship.
The venue became quiet for a extremely emotional homage ahead of the contest as ten bells tolled in honor of local hero Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the city since Hatton's passing. As the final chime ended, the silence transitioned to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout matched the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a left hook directly to the chin in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his position on the eight count.
But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured early, significant bruising forming under his face as the pair landed punishing blows.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
Arthur edged the verdict with judges scorecards of draw, 115-113 and wider gap, but each competitor were determined and brave, all the qualities their hero Hatton represented.
