UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective clean blows in a match where the techniques failed to mesh, with excessive holding spoiling the action.
The officials judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor commented in the ring as he was met by disapproval from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts thought the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Claims Win in Slow Affair
His career development has stalled in recent times through management issues and extended periods of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the future of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a tentative opening few rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to barely take the cleaner rounds.
The audience's tolerance wore thin during regular grabbing, with the challenger going down various instances during clinches.
Parker closed well, but several stanzas were hard to judge. However, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Fight
In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a terrific local rivalry fight to secure the continental championship.
The venue became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial ahead of the contest as 10 bells sounded in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised match card in the city since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the stillness became a chant of "only one Hatton".
The fighting during the bout matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow directly to the face in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the eight count.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured early, noticeable damage developing under his orbital area as the pair exchanged punishing blows.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
The victor barely secured the result with official scores of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but each competitor were relentless and courageous, everything their inspiration Hatton represented.
