British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the boxing arena.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful individual punches in a fight where the approaches never quite clicked, with constant grabbing spoiling the action.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what do champions do? They win," the victor said in the arena as he was faced disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts thought Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Claims Triumph in Uneventful Match
His career development has slowed in recent years through promotional disputes and long spells of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the future of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He started carefully, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was participating in his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.
The crowd's patience decreased during frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during grappling.
The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
The victor moves on, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a outstanding all-Manchester contest to capture the European light heavyweight title.
The stadium became quiet for a extremely emotional homage prior to the bout as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in September.
It was the first major televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the silence transitioned to a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action inside the ropes reflected the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged early, heavy swelling forming under his eye as the duo landed powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over the full distance.
Arthur narrowly won the result with official scores of even score, 115-113 and clearer margin, but each competitor were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their idol Hatton stood for.
