UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive start to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output seemingly secured him a split decision in a competitive 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the approaches didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching marring the fight.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was faced disapproval from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, 31, merited the win but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second setback of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Secures Triumph in Slow Affair
His career development has stalled in the past few years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to take risks in a calculated opening few rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was participating in his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to barely take the more effective stanzas.
The audience's tolerance diminished amid regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during clinches.
Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels Local Rivalry Fight
In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a excellent all-Manchester battle to win the European light heavyweight belt.
The venue became quiet for a extremely emotional memorial ahead of the contest as 10 bells sounded in memory of the city's native Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the city since Hatton's passing. As the last bell ended, the quiet transitioned to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes matched the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch squarely on the jaw in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his position on the count of eight.
But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling appearing under his orbital area as the duo landed hard punches.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, narrow lead and clearer margin, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton embodied.
