UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming debut to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a majority decision in a tight 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful single shots in a contest where the techniques didn't complement each other, with excessive holding disrupting the action.
Two judges judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what defines champions? They win," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was met by disapproval from the crowd.
The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers thought the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer experienced the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Win in Slow Encounter
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent times through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what feels like a last chance - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter ready to overcommit in a calculated initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective periods.
The crowd's patience wore thin during constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during clinches.
The underdog closed well, but many rounds were hard to judge. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Hatton Homage Fuels All-Manchester Fight
In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding all-Manchester fight to secure the continental title.
The arena became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in memory of local hero Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell disappeared, the silence became a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting within the ring equaled the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the referee's count.
But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged early, significant bruising developing under his face as the pair traded powerful shots.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the intensity hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor edged the result with judges scorecards of 114-114, 115-113 and 115-112, but the two athletes were determined and courageous, exactly what their hero the legend represented.
