British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing start to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate likely gained him a majority decision in a close ten-round contest at the boxing arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching spoiling the fight.
The officials judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They win," the victor stated in the ringside as he was greeted with negative reactions from the crowd.
The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers believed the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second setback of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Earns Victory in Uneventful Encounter
His career development has plateaued in the past few years through management issues and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the future of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.
Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was competing in only his second bout at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to edge the better stanzas.
The crowd's patience diminished because of regular grabbing, with Parker going down several times during grappling.
The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
The victor moves on, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates Local Rivalry Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent local rivalry battle to win the continental belt.
The stadium became quiet for a profoundly moving homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in September.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime ended, the stillness became a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action inside the ropes matched the emotion. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow flush on the face in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up early, heavy swelling forming under his orbital area as the duo traded punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.
The victor narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of draw, close margin and clearer margin, but the two athletes were persistent and courageous, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton represented.
