UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming start to life under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a split decision in a close ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the styles failed to mesh, with constant grabbing disrupting the fight.
The officials judged it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.
"It wasn't my finest display but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi said in the ring as he was met by disapproval from the audience.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers felt the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.
Buatsi Claims Triumph in Slow Affair
Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent times through contract problems and long spells of lack of fights.
Earlier forecast as the next star of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He began cautiously, with the two boxers ready to be aggressive in a cagey opening few rounds.
Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second fight at light heavyweight.
By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to edge the cleaner stanzas.
The crowd's patience decreased during constant clinching, with Parker going down multiple occasions during close exchanges.
The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi moves on, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Contest
In the co-main event, Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry fight to win the continental title.
The venue grew hushed for a deeply poignant homage before the fight as ten bells sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in September.
It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound faded, the stillness became a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The action during the bout matched the emotion. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch flush on the jaw in the second round, rising shakily to his footing on the referee's count.
But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged soon, heavy swelling appearing under his face as the duo exchanged powerful shots.
Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the pace rarely dropped over 12 rounds.
The victor narrowly won the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and clearer margin, but both fighters were determined and courageous, everything their inspiration the legend represented.
