British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a split decision in a close 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with constant grabbing disrupting the contest.
The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my best display but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi said in the arena as he was faced negative reactions from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts felt Parker, 31, merited the win but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Claims Win in Uneventful Affair
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers willing to take risks in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand in the contest, was participating in his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to edge the cleaner rounds.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin amid regular grabbing, with the challenger going down various instances during clinches.
The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still seems difficult.
Hatton Memorial Fuels All-Manchester Contest
In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a outstanding all-Manchester fight to capture the continental title.
The venue became quiet for a profoundly moving tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell faded, the silence became a roar of "there's only one Hatton".
The fighting during the bout equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow squarely on the face in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, heavy swelling appearing under his eye as the duo landed powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over the full distance.
The victor barely secured the decision with official scores of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their inspiration the legend stood for.
