British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming start to life under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a split decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling clean blows in a match where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching marring the action.
Two judges had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was met by boos from the audience.
The Londoner got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers thought Parker, thirty-one, deserved the win but the contender suffered the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Earns Win in Dull Match
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent times through promotional disputes and long spells of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the next star of British boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what seems like a last chance - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with the two boxers prepared to be aggressive in a cagey early stages.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to edge the more effective stanzas.
The audience's tolerance diminished because of regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during clinches.
Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
The victor advances, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates All-Manchester Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester contest to secure the European light-heavyweight belt.
The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute prior to the bout as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in September.
It was the first major televised match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet became a shout of "there's only one Hatton".
The action within the ring reflected the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow squarely on the chin in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.
But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged soon, heavy swelling developing under his orbital area as the duo traded punishing blows.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor narrowly won the decision with scoring tallies of 114-114, 115-113 and wider gap, but each competitor were determined and full of heart, exactly what their idol the legend stood for.
