UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing start to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger found success, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the styles never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the action.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest showing but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor stated in the ring as he was faced disapproval from the audience.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts believed Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Win in Dull Encounter
The fighter's advancement has stalled in the past few years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was participating in his second appearance at light-heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective periods.
The crowd's patience wore thin amid constant clinching, with the challenger going down several times during grappling.
The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi advances, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Fight
In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to win the European light heavyweight title.
The arena grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony rang in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in last month.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell faded, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action during the bout equaled the emotion. Arthur was floored by a left hook flush on the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the count of eight.
But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured soon, noticeable damage forming under his orbital area as the duo landed punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor edged the result with official scores of draw, 115-113 and clearer margin, but the two athletes were persistent and courageous, exactly what their inspiration Hatton embodied.
