UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming debut to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, landing some telling clean blows in a match where the approaches failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the contest.
Two judges judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my best performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the ringside as he was met by boos from the spectators.
The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.
Some ringside observers thought Parker, thirty-one, merited the win but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second loss of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Earns Win in Uneventful Affair
Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.
He started carefully, with the two boxers prepared to overcommit in a tentative opening few rounds.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was making just his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to narrowly win the better rounds.
The spectators' acceptance wore thin during constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during clinches.
The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were hard to judge. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Ricky Hatton Homage Fuels Manchester Derby Fight
In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a terrific all-Manchester battle to win the European light heavyweight title.
The stadium grew hushed for a deeply poignant tribute prior to the bout as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in recently.
It was the premier televised fight night in the city since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound faded, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The action during the bout equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch directly to the jaw in the initial stage, rising shakily to his feet on the eight count.
But the Manchester United-red shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling appearing under his face as the duo landed powerful shots.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over 12 rounds.
The victor barely secured the result with scoring tallies of draw, close margin and wider gap, but the two athletes were determined and brave, exactly what their hero Hatton embodied.
