UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive start to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a split decision in a close ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful clean blows in a contest where the techniques didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching marring the action.
The scoring judges scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my greatest display but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor commented in the ringside as he was faced boos from the audience.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a twentieth professional win.
Several boxing experts believed the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer experienced the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Secures Triumph in Slow Match
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent times through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the future of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what appears to be a last chance - under fresh management.
He opened tentatively, with neither fighter ready to overcommit in a cagey initial rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to edge the better stanzas.
The crowd's patience wore thin because of regular grabbing, with Parker going down multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. However, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still appears challenging.
Hatton Tribute Motivates Local Rivalry Fight
In the co-main event, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester battle to secure the continental championship.
The arena became quiet for a profoundly moving tribute prior to the bout as a bell ceremony rang in memory of the city's native Hatton, who died at age 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the location since Hatton's death. As the last bell faded, the silence became a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The fighting inside the ropes matched the emotion. Arthur was floored by a left hook squarely on the chin in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up early, heavy swelling appearing under his face as the fighters traded powerful shots.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over twelve rounds.
Arthur barely secured the decision with scoring tallies of 114-114, close margin and 115-112, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, all the qualities their idol Hatton stood for.
