British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level likely gained him a split decision in a close 10-round bout at the boxing arena.
But the challenger had his moments, connecting with powerful single shots in a contest where the techniques failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the contest.
The scoring judges judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my best display but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor commented in the arena as he was greeted with negative reactions from the crowd.
The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts felt Parker, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer endured the second loss of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Claims Triumph in Slow Match
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent times through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a cagey early stages.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was participating in his second bout at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to edge the cleaner periods.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin amid frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during grappling.
The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Battle
In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a excellent local rivalry fight to capture the European light-heavyweight championship.
The venue grew hushed for a deeply poignant tribute prior to the bout as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell faded, the quiet became a shout of "there's only one Hatton".
The competition during the bout matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow flush on the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his position on the referee's count.
But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, noticeable damage appearing under his face as the fighters traded powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the verdict with official scores of 114-114, narrow lead and 115-112, but both fighters were persistent and brave, all the qualities their inspiration the legend represented.
