UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful single shots in a contest where the approaches failed to mesh, with excessive holding disrupting the action.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest showing but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was faced boos from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Win in Dull Match
Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a cagey opening few rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to edge the better periods.
The crowd's patience decreased because of constant clinching, with Parker going down multiple occasions during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor advances, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates Local Rivalry Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester battle to win the continental championship.
The arena fell silent for a profoundly moving homage ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in last month.
It was the first major televised fight night in the location since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound disappeared, the silence gave way to a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout reflected the emotion. Arthur was floored by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured quickly, heavy swelling developing under his face as the fighters landed hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over the full distance.
Arthur narrowly won the verdict with official scores of draw, close margin and wider gap, but both fighters were persistent and courageous, all the qualities their hero Hatton embodied.
