British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a split decision in a close ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful individual punches in a contest where the approaches failed to mesh, with frequent clinching marring the fight.
The officials judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They win," the victor stated in the ring as he was faced disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers felt Parker, thirty-one, merited the win but the contender endured the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Victory in Slow Match
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent times through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what seems like a last chance - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand during the bout, was participating in his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to edge the cleaner rounds.
The audience's tolerance wore thin during constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during close exchanges.
Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Hatton Memorial Fuels All-Manchester Fight
In the secondary fight, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific local rivalry battle to secure the European light heavyweight championship.
The stadium grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage ahead of the contest as 10 bells sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the silence gave way to a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook flush on the chin in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his feet on the eight count.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, noticeable damage appearing under his eye as the duo traded punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, narrow lead and 115-112, but each competitor were determined and courageous, all the qualities their inspiration the legend stood for.
