UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a tight ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the approaches didn't complement each other, with excessive holding disrupting the fight.
Two judges judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my best display but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was met by boos from the crowd.
The British fighter got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.
Various analysts thought Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the contender suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.
The Champion Claims Win in Uneventful Match
His career development has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with both competitors ready to be aggressive in a tentative opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was making just his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a solid defense to barely take the cleaner stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin because of regular grabbing, with Parker going down several times during close exchanges.
Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates Manchester Derby Fight
In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester fight to win the European light-heavyweight title.
The stadium fell silent for a extremely emotional tribute prior to the bout as a bell ceremony rang in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound faded, the silence transitioned to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow directly to the chin in the second round, rising shakily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged soon, significant bruising developing under his face as the fighters traded powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the action rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, narrow lead and clearer margin, but each competitor were determined and full of heart, everything their hero the legend embodied.
