British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective clean blows in a fight where the approaches didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching disrupting the fight.
Two judges scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was faced boos from the crowd.
The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.
Various analysts felt Parker, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Earns Victory in Dull Affair
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent times through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - possibly in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He started carefully, with neither fighter willing to overcommit in a calculated initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to edge the better stanzas.
The audience's tolerance diminished during regular grabbing, with the challenger going down several times during grappling.
Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi advances, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates Local Rivalry Fight
In the secondary fight, Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a outstanding all-Manchester fight to win the European light heavyweight title.
The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in memory of local hero Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound disappeared, the stillness became a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring matched the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch flush on the jaw in the initial stage, rising shakily to his footing on the eight count.
But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured early, noticeable damage developing under his eye as the fighters landed powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over the full distance.
Arthur narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, narrow lead and wider gap, but each competitor were relentless and full of heart, everything their hero the legend represented.
