UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive beginning to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a split decision in a tight 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker had his moments, delivering effective individual punches in a contest where the techniques didn't complement each other, with excessive holding marring the action.
Two judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor said in the ring as he was greeted with boos from the spectators.
The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts thought Parker, thirty-one, merited the decision but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Triumph in Slow Affair
His career development has stalled in the past few years through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with the two boxers prepared to be aggressive in a calculated initial rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight 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 kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to edge the better periods.
The crowd's patience wore thin amid regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.
Parker closed well, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates Local Rivalry Fight
In the secondary fight, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry battle to win the European light-heavyweight title.
The stadium grew hushed for a deeply poignant memorial prior to the bout as 10 bells sounded in memory of local hero Hatton, who died aged 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound ended, the quiet gave way to a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action during the bout equaled the feeling. Arthur was floored by a significant blow directly to the jaw in the initial stage, 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, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged soon, noticeable damage forming under his face as the pair traded hard punches.
The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur edged the verdict with official scores of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but the two athletes were persistent and full of heart, all the qualities their idol the legend stood for.
