UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing beginning to life under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective individual punches in a contest where the techniques didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best showing but what do champions do? They win," the victor stated in the arena as he was faced negative reactions from the crowd.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts thought Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Win in Dull Affair
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and extended periods of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the next star of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with neither fighter prepared to take risks in a calculated initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was making just his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to narrowly win the better periods.
The audience's tolerance diminished amid frequent holding, with Parker going down several times during grappling.
Parker closed well, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates Local Rivalry Battle
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a terrific all-Manchester fight to win the continental belt.
The arena became quiet for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as 10 bells rang in honor of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in September.
It was the first major televised match card in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes matched the feeling. Arthur was floored by a left hook directly to the chin in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured quickly, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the duo exchanged hard punches.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the pace hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of draw, close margin and clearer margin, but both fighters were determined and brave, exactly what their inspiration the legend represented.
