UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive start to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a contest where the approaches failed to mesh, with excessive holding spoiling the contest.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my best performance but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor said in the arena as he was faced disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Various analysts believed Parker, 31, deserved the decision but the British boxer experienced the second loss of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Claims Victory in Slow Affair
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to overcommit in a cagey opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was participating in his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner periods.
The crowd's patience decreased during regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Fight
In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry battle to capture the European light heavyweight title.
The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as 10 bells tolled in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the city since Hatton's death. As the last bell faded, the silence became a shout of "there's just one Hatton".
The action during the bout equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a powerful punch directly to the jaw in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was damaged soon, heavy swelling appearing under his face as the duo landed punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
The victor barely secured the verdict with scoring tallies of even score, close margin and clearer margin, but each competitor were determined and brave, all the qualities their idol the legend embodied.
