British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round bout at the boxing arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful individual punches in a contest where the styles failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the action.
Two judges scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor said in the ringside as he was greeted with negative reactions from the audience.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.
Various analysts thought the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the win but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Victory in Slow Affair
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent times through contract problems and long spells of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the next star of UK boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with both competitors willing to take risks in a calculated early stages.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand in the contest, was participating in his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to edge the cleaner periods.
The crowd's patience diminished amid frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during close exchanges.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Battle
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester fight to win the European light-heavyweight belt.
The stadium grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage ahead of the contest as ten bells tolled in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound ended, the silence became a shout of "there's just one Hatton".
The action inside the ropes equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged early, significant bruising forming under his face as the duo traded punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over the full distance.
Arthur narrowly won the result with scoring tallies of even score, close margin and clearer margin, but the two athletes were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their hero the legend stood for.
