UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a split decision in a tight 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, landing some telling single shots in a match where the techniques failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the contest.
The officials judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what defines champions? They win," the victor commented in the ringside as he was faced disapproval from the crowd.
The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts felt the challenger, 31, merited the decision but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Earns Win in Uneventful Match
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent times through contract problems and extended periods of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the next star of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a calculated early stages.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to narrowly win the better rounds.
The spectators' acceptance diminished because of regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates Manchester Derby Battle
In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to capture the continental championship.
The venue became quiet for a extremely emotional tribute prior to the bout as ten bells sounded in memory of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised match card in the city since Hatton's passing. As the last bell ended, the quiet became a roar of "there's just one Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch directly to the jaw in the second round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the referee's count.
But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured early, significant bruising developing under his face as the fighters exchanged powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor narrowly won the result with official scores of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and brave, all the qualities their hero the legend embodied.
