UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a split decision in a competitive ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the techniques didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing disrupting the contest.
The officials had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what do champions do? They succeed," Buatsi said in the arena as he was met by disapproval from the audience.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers believed the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Victory in Uneventful Encounter
His career development has stalled in recent times through management issues and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a calculated initial rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was competing in only his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a solid defense to edge the cleaner rounds.
The spectators' acceptance diminished amid constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during clinches.
Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester contest to capture the continental championship.
The stadium grew hushed for a profoundly moving memorial prior to the bout as ten bells sounded in honor of local hero Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell faded, the silence became a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch directly to the jaw in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his position on the eight count.
But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, heavy swelling forming under his eye as the fighters traded punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
Arthur edged the result with judges scorecards of even score, close margin and wider gap, but the two athletes were persistent and courageous, exactly what their idol Hatton represented.
