UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming start to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a split decision in a close ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker found success, delivering effective single shots in a fight where the approaches didn't complement each other, with excessive holding marring the contest.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but what do champions do? They win," the victor commented in the arena as he was greeted with negative reactions from the audience.
The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers thought the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the win but the contender endured the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Triumph in Slow Match
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent years through promotional disputes and considerable time of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a tentative opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was making just his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a solid defense to edge the better periods.
The crowd's patience wore thin during regular grabbing, with Parker going down several times during close exchanges.
Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates Manchester Derby Contest
In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry battle to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.
The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving homage ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised match card in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound disappeared, the quiet transitioned to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".
The competition during the bout matched the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch directly to the jaw in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his position on the count of eight.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured early, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the duo exchanged powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over twelve rounds.
Arthur narrowly won the result with official scores of 114-114, narrow lead and wider gap, but each competitor were determined and brave, all the qualities their idol the legend represented.
