British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to his career under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's punch output seemingly secured him a majority decision in a tight ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful single shots in a match where the techniques didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing marring the fight.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the audience.
The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers felt Parker, 31, merited the win but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second defeat of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Secures Win in Slow Match
His career development has slowed in recent years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second fight at light-heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to barely take the cleaner rounds.
The audience's tolerance decreased during regular grabbing, with the challenger going down several times during close exchanges.
The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.
The victor advances, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a excellent local rivalry fight to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.
The stadium became quiet for a profoundly moving homage ahead of the contest as ten bells tolled in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in recently.
It was the premier televised fight night in the city since Hatton's passing. As the final chime ended, the stillness gave way to a shout of "there's just one Hatton".
The action within the ring equaled the sentiment. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch directly to the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his position on the eight count.
But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured quickly, noticeable damage developing under his eye as the fighters traded punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
Arthur edged the verdict with judges scorecards of draw, 115-113 and 115-112, but both fighters were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton stood for.
