UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive start to life 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 judges' verdict in a tight ten-round fight at the boxing arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a contest where the techniques never quite clicked, with frequent clinching marring the contest.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best display but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was met by boos from the spectators.
The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.
Various analysts thought the challenger, thirty-one, merited the win but the British boxer endured the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Win in Uneventful Encounter
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter prepared to take risks in a calculated initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was participating in his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to narrowly win the better stanzas.
The audience's tolerance decreased amid constant clinching, with the challenger going down several times during grappling.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Motivates All-Manchester Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a terrific all-Manchester contest to secure the European light heavyweight title.
The arena fell silent for a extremely emotional memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony sounded in memory of the city's native Hatton, who died 46 years old in recently.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime ended, the stillness transitioned to a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action inside the ropes matched the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow directly to the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged soon, significant bruising appearing under his face as the pair exchanged powerful shots.
Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.
Arthur barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of draw, close margin and wider gap, but both fighters were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their inspiration the legend stood for.
