UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing beginning to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a split decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the approaches failed to mesh, with constant grabbing disrupting the fight.
Two judges judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor commented in the ring as he was greeted with disapproval from the audience.
The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.
Various analysts believed Parker, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Triumph in Dull Affair
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in the past few years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter prepared to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to edge the more effective stanzas.
The spectators' acceptance decreased amid frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Fuels Local Rivalry Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry battle to win the European light-heavyweight belt.
The arena fell silent for a extremely emotional homage before the fight as a bell ceremony rang in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in recently.
It was the first major televised fight night in the city since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound faded, the quiet gave way to a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The action inside the ropes matched the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch flush on the chin in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising forming under his face as the fighters traded punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
The victor barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of draw, narrow lead and clearer margin, but both fighters were persistent and brave, all the qualities their inspiration the legend embodied.
