UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming start to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round fight at the boxing arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, landing some telling single shots in a contest where the approaches failed to mesh, with constant grabbing disrupting the contest.
The officials had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor commented in the ring as he was faced boos from the crowd.
The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts believed Parker, thirty-one, merited the decision but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Earns Victory in Uneventful Encounter
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He started carefully, with neither fighter ready to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to barely take the better stanzas.
The crowd's patience wore thin during regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor advances, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Hatton Tribute Fuels Manchester Derby Contest
In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry fight to secure the continental title.
The arena grew hushed for a deeply poignant tribute prior to the bout as a bell ceremony rang in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in September.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the quiet transitioned to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".
The fighting during the bout equaled the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the second round, rising shakily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured early, significant bruising forming under his face as the fighters landed punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the decision with official scores of draw, narrow lead and 115-112, but both fighters were persistent and brave, everything their hero the legend embodied.
