British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a split decision in a tight 10-round fight at the boxing arena.
But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful single shots in a fight where the techniques failed to mesh, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.
Two judges judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest performance but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was faced disapproval from the spectators.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts felt Parker, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second loss of his 28-match career.
Buatsi Secures Win in Slow Encounter
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent times through management issues and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what seems like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers ready to overcommit in a tentative opening few rounds.
Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand during the bout, was participating in his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the more effective periods.
The crowd's patience decreased during constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during close exchanges.
Parker closed well, but multiple periods were hard to judge. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates All-Manchester Battle
In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry fight to capture the continental championship.
The stadium became quiet for a extremely emotional memorial before the fight as ten bells rang in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in last month.
It was the premier televised fight night in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The competition within the ring matched the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow directly to the jaw in the early round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the eight count.
But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured soon, significant bruising developing under his face as the fighters traded hard punches.
The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
The victor barely secured the verdict with official scores of 114-114, narrow lead and wider gap, but each competitor were determined and brave, everything their idol Hatton embodied.
