UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive beginning to his career under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a split decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling single shots in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with constant grabbing spoiling the action.
The officials had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best performance but what defines champions? They win," the victor stated in the ringside as he was faced disapproval from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers believed the challenger, thirty-one, merited the win but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Earns Victory in Uneventful Affair
Buatsi's progress has stalled in the past few years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a last chance - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with both competitors ready to be aggressive in a calculated opening few rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was competing in only his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.
The audience's tolerance decreased because of constant clinching, with Parker going down various instances during grappling.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
The victor moves on, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates Manchester Derby Fight
In the supporting bout, Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to win the European light-heavyweight title.
The stadium became quiet for a profoundly moving homage before the fight as ten bells rang in memory of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in September.
It was the premier televised fight night in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action inside the ropes reflected the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow flush on the face in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the eight count.
But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up early, significant bruising appearing under his face as the fighters landed punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur barely secured the decision with scoring tallies of even score, close margin and wider gap, but each competitor were determined and brave, exactly what their hero the legend embodied.
