UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing debut to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a split decision in a close 10-round bout at the boxing arena.
But Parker found success, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the techniques didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.
Two judges judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.
"It wasn't my best display but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor stated in the ring as he was greeted with negative reactions from the crowd.
The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts thought Parker, thirty-one, deserved the victory but the contender experienced the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.
The Champion Earns Victory in Uneventful Affair
The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with both competitors ready to be aggressive in a cagey initial rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to barely take the better rounds.
The audience's tolerance decreased amid frequent holding, with Parker going down multiple occasions during clinches.
The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Although, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester contest to win the European light-heavyweight title.
The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant homage ahead of the contest as 10 bells sounded in memory of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in last month.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell ended, the stillness gave way to a shout of "there's just one Hatton".
The action inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook flush on the chin in the early round, rising shakily to his footing on the count of eight.
But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage forming under his orbital area as the duo traded punishing blows.
The challenger, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor barely secured the decision with scoring tallies of 114-114, 115-113 and 115-112, but both fighters were determined and brave, everything their inspiration Hatton represented.
