British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming debut to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the styles didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the fight.
The officials judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was met by boos from the audience.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers believed Parker, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the contender suffered the second loss of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Claims Triumph in Uneventful Affair
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the future of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - maybe in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with the two boxers ready to overcommit in a cagey early stages.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to barely take the cleaner stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance diminished because of regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker closed well, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
The victor progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Homage Fuels All-Manchester Contest
In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester contest to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.
The arena grew hushed for a profoundly moving tribute ahead of the contest as 10 bells sounded in honor of the city's native Hatton, who died aged 46 in September.
It was the premier televised match card in the city since Hatton's death. As the final chime ended, the stillness became a roar of "there's just one Hatton".
The fighting within the ring equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook directly to the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his position on the eight count.
But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured soon, heavy swelling forming under his eye as the duo exchanged powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor narrowly won the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, narrow lead and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and brave, everything their hero Hatton represented.
