UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive beginning to his career under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a split decision in a close 10-round contest at the boxing arena.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful single shots in a contest where the techniques never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the fight.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my best showing but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor stated in the ring as he was faced negative reactions from the spectators.
The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts felt Parker, 31, merited the victory but the contender suffered the second loss of his 28-bout career.
Buatsi Secures Win in Slow Encounter
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what seems like a last chance - under recent support.
He started carefully, with the two boxers prepared to take risks in a calculated initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner rounds.
The crowd's patience decreased amid frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker closed well, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Although, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Fight
In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a outstanding all-Manchester fight to capture the European light-heavyweight title.
The arena fell silent for a extremely emotional memorial ahead of the contest as 10 bells sounded in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell ended, the stillness transitioned to a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting during the bout matched the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his feet on the eight count.
But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured soon, significant bruising developing under his face as the fighters traded punishing blows.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
The victor barely secured the result with official scores of even score, close margin and clearer margin, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, exactly what their idol Hatton represented.
