British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming debut to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
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 fight.
Two judges judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest display but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was greeted with negative reactions from the crowd.
The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th career victory.
Several boxing experts thought Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the contender endured the second setback of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Earns Win in Dull Affair
The fighter's advancement has slowed in the past few years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter ready to be aggressive in a calculated early stages.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to narrowly win the more effective rounds.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin amid constant clinching, with Parker going down various instances during close exchanges.
Parker closed well, but multiple periods were hard to judge. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor progresses, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Hatton Tribute Motivates All-Manchester Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by close verdict in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester battle to win the European light-heavyweight belt.
The stadium became quiet for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in September.
It was the premier televised fight night in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell ended, the silence transitioned to a shout of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action within the ring reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch flush on the jaw in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the count of eight.
But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was damaged quickly, heavy swelling developing under his orbital area as the duo landed powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
Arthur edged the verdict with scoring tallies of even score, narrow lead and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and brave, all the qualities their inspiration the legend stood for.
