UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a majority decision in a tight 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful single shots in a fight where the techniques didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing marring the contest.
The officials judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my finest display but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor stated in the ring as he was greeted with boos from the audience.
The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers thought the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the contender experienced the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Secures Win in Uneventful Encounter
The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent years through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - maybe in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to take risks in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the cleaner stanzas.
The crowd's patience wore thin amid regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker closed well, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor advances, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates All-Manchester Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester contest to secure the continental belt.
The arena grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as ten bells rang in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in last month.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the silence transitioned to a shout of "there's only one Hatton".
The fighting during the bout equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow squarely on the chin in the early round, standing uncertainly to his position on the count of eight.
But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged early, noticeable damage appearing under his face as the duo traded powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
The victor edged the decision with official scores of even score, 115-113 and clearer margin, but the two athletes were determined and brave, everything their idol the legend represented.
