UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive beginning to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But Parker found success, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the styles failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the fight.
Two judges scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi said in the ring as he was faced disapproval from the spectators.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers felt Parker, 31, should have been awarded the win but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second loss of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Earns Win in Dull Match
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a calculated early stages.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was making just his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the better stanzas.
The audience's tolerance wore thin amid frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
The victor advances, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Motivates Local Rivalry Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester fight to capture the continental championship.
The stadium became quiet for a extremely emotional memorial ahead of the contest as ten bells tolled in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a chant of "only one Hatton".
The action inside the ropes matched the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook squarely on the chin in the second round, rising shakily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged quickly, heavy swelling forming under his face as the pair traded punishing blows.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor barely secured the decision with official scores of 114-114, close margin and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, all the qualities their idol Hatton embodied.
