UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level likely gained him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.
But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful single shots in a fight where the techniques didn't complement each other, with excessive holding marring the contest.
The officials had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest display but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was met by negative reactions from the spectators.
The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers felt the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.
The Champion Earns Win in Uneventful Encounter
The fighter's advancement has slowed in the past few years through contract problems and extended periods of lack of fights.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - maybe in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter ready to take risks in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to barely take the more effective periods.
The spectators' acceptance decreased amid regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.
The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
The victor moves on, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still seems difficult.
Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates Local Rivalry Battle
In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a excellent all-Manchester fight to win the European light heavyweight belt.
The arena became quiet for a extremely emotional memorial ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in recently.
It was the premier televised fight night in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime ended, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".
The fighting during the bout equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook flush on the face in the initial stage, rising shakily to his position on the referee's count.
But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up early, significant bruising developing under his eye as the pair exchanged powerful shots.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur edged the verdict with judges scorecards of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but each competitor were persistent and courageous, everything their inspiration the legend embodied.
