British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive debut to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a majority decision in a close ten-round fight at the boxing arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching marring the fight.
The officials had it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my finest display but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor stated in the ringside as he was greeted with disapproval from the spectators.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts felt Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the British boxer experienced the second loss of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Claims Triumph in Dull Affair
His career development has stalled in recent years through management issues and long spells of lack of fights.
Once tipped as the future of British boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with neither fighter ready to overcommit in a tentative opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to barely take the cleaner stanzas.
The audience's tolerance wore thin during frequent holding, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during clinches.
The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Although, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Hatton Homage Fuels All-Manchester Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester fight to capture the European light heavyweight championship.
The venue grew hushed for a deeply poignant tribute ahead of the contest as 10 bells tolled in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell faded, the quiet gave way to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".
The action inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch directly to the chin in the initial stage, rising shakily to his feet on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured early, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the pair traded hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.
The victor edged the verdict with official scores of 114-114, close margin and clearer margin, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their hero the legend represented.
