British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming beginning to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But Parker found success, landing some telling clean blows in a fight where the approaches never quite clicked, with excessive holding marring the contest.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest display but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi said in the ring as he was met by negative reactions from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts felt the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the British boxer experienced the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Triumph in Slow Encounter
His career development has plateaued in recent times through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the future of British boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a cagey opening few rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was making just his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to barely take the cleaner stanzas.
The crowd's patience decreased because of constant clinching, with Parker going down several times during close exchanges.
The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Motivates Manchester Derby Battle
In the secondary fight, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester fight to capture the continental championship.
The stadium grew hushed for a profoundly moving homage before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "only one Hatton".
The competition during the bout reflected the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook directly to the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up early, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the fighters landed punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the pace rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor narrowly won the decision with official scores of 114-114, close margin and 115-112, but each competitor were persistent and brave, everything their hero Hatton stood for.
