UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective clean blows in a fight where the styles didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching marring the fight.
The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest performance but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi said in the arena as he was greeted with negative reactions from the spectators.
The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th pro success.
Several boxing experts believed Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the contender endured the second defeat of his 28-fight career.
The Champion Claims Triumph in Slow Affair
His career development has slowed in recent times through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of British boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with both competitors willing to be aggressive in a cagey early stages.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was competing in only his second appearance at the higher weight class.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a protective stance to edge the cleaner rounds.
The crowd's patience decreased during regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during grappling.
Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.
Buatsi advances, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Hatton Tribute Inspires Local Rivalry Battle
In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding local rivalry battle to win the European light-heavyweight belt.
The stadium became quiet for a profoundly moving memorial prior to the bout as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who died aged 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the quiet became a chant of "there's only one Hatton".
The action inside the ropes equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook directly to the face in the initial stage, rising shakily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up early, heavy swelling forming under his eye as the pair traded punishing blows.
Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
Arthur edged the decision with official scores of even score, narrow lead and wider gap, but each competitor were determined and courageous, all the qualities their hero the legend represented.
