UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming debut to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a split decision in a competitive ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful individual punches in a match where the styles failed to mesh, with frequent clinching disrupting the contest.
Two judges judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor stated in the ring as he was met by boos from the crowd.
The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts thought the challenger, 31, deserved the victory but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Secures Win in Dull Match
Buatsi's progress has slowed in the past few years through contract problems and extended periods of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - possibly in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a tentative early stages.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was competing in only his second appearance at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to barely take the better stanzas.
The crowd's patience wore thin amid frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.
The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. However, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Fight
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester contest to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.
The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony sounded in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who died 46 years old in last month.
It was the premier televised fight night in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound faded, the quiet became a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring matched the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a significant blow squarely on the jaw in the second round, rising shakily to his footing on the eight count.
But the red-colored attire of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up early, heavy swelling appearing under his orbital area as the fighters exchanged punishing blows.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
Arthur edged the decision with official scores of even score, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were relentless and full of heart, exactly what their inspiration the legend represented.
